CHANDIGARH: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday met the family of Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, who allegedly died by suicide after being subjected to workplace harassment. Expressing deep grief over the tragic incident, Gandhi said the case reflected a larger pattern of injustice and discrimination faced by Dalits across the country.
After meeting the bereaved family, Rahul Gandhi said that the circumstances surrounding Y Puran Kumar’s death raise serious questions about the treatment of Dalit officers in government services. “This is not just about one officer or one family. It is about millions of Dalits in India who continue to suffer humiliation and injustice every day,” he said. Gandhi alleged that the officer was systematically pressured, harassed and silenced until he was driven to take the extreme step.
Rahul Gandhi pointed out that despite public assurances from the Haryana Chief Minister, the promises made to the family have not yet been fulfilled. He demanded that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini intervene and take strict action against those responsible for pushing the officer to his death. He also urged the state government to ensure that Y Puran Kumar is accorded a dignified cremation, in keeping with the family’s wishes.
“The family’s pain is unimaginable. They have lost a son and a husband who dedicated his life to public service. What they are demanding is not sympathy, but justice and respect,” Gandhi said. He added that the case should serve as a wake-up call for the system to address deep-rooted caste discrimination that continues to plague the nation’s institutions.
Gandhi reiterated that atrocities against Dalits were not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing national trend where victims are denied justice and perpetrators enjoy impunity. He said the Congress party stands firmly with the family of Y Puran Kumar and with every Dalit who faces oppression. “This fight is not just about one individual. It is about dignity, equality and the constitutional promise of justice for all,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi concluded by calling on the Centre and the Haryana Government to act decisively, not with token gestures but through concrete action that restores faith in justice and sends a clear message that no one is above the law.
