Haryana Chief Minister clarifies 'can't protect everyone' remark

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, on Wednesday, said that his statement - "we can't protect everyone" - which he made in connection with the communal clashes that broke out in the state's Nuh district on Monday had been taken out of context.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Khattar appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony in the state. However, he said that no one can guarantee the same, adding that the state can't protect everyone.

Later, Khattar said that his statement had been interpreted in the wrong context.

He clarified that he was saying that apart from having security officials to protect people, it was important to ensure that there was harmony among people in society.

"To create an environment of security, it is necessary to have harmony first," he said.

Six people were killed in the violence and several cars and shops were set ablaze by mobs over the past two days.

Violence broke out in Haryana’s Nuh district after a mob tried to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) procession on Monday. Stones were thrown and cars were set on fire as clashes erupted between the two groups.

As news of the violence in Nuh spread, mobs in adjoining Gurugram district's Sohna set fire to four vehicles and a shop.

6 KILLED IN HARYANA VIOLENCE, 116 ARRESTED

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Khattar said that six people, including two police officials, were killed in the violence. He further said that 116 people were arrested and 190 were detained in connection with the clashes.

The Haryana government has announced Rs 57 lakh compensation to the families of the two police officials killed in the violence.

COMPENSATION FOR PROPERTY LOSS

Talking about the people who lost their property in the violence on Monday and Tuesday in Haryana's Nuh and Gurugram, Khattar said that they would receive compensation from the rioters.

Khattar explained that the state government would only provide compensation for damage to government property. However, the state was not liable to compensate for the damage caused to private property.

"We have passed an Act wherein the government issues compensation for the loss of public property. But as far as private property is concerned, those who caused the loss are liable to compensate for it. So, we will provide for loss of public property and for private property, compensation will be collected from those who are liable for it," he said.

He said the rioters would be identified and made to pay for the loss of private property during the mob violence in Nuh and Gurugram.

KHATTAR ON MONU MANESAR

Speaking about what led to the large-scale violence, Khattar said that officials were investigating the incident and examining call records and CCTV footage currently.

According to some reports, one of the reasons that triggered the violence were claims of Monu Manesar, a cow vigilante, joining the VHP procession on Monday in Nuh.

Monu Manesar, a cow vigilante, was booked earlier for the murder of two Muslim men whose charred bodies were found in the Bhiwani district in February.

When questioned about Monu Manesar and the riots, Khattar said that the case linked to Manesar was with the Rajasthan Police.

However, he said that Haryana's Nuh district had issues of "cow protection" and asked Muslims to join hands for protection of cows.

SIT TO PROBE COMMUNAL VIOLENCE IN NUH

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed to investigate the cases of communal violence in Haryana and the role of Bajrang Dal member Monu Manesar in the clashes is being probed, state police chief PK Agrawal said on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference in Gurugram on Wednesday, the DGP said the situation in the state was under control and curfew has been relaxed for a brief period in Nuh.

Gurugram is completely safe and there is no report of any violence. Senior officers have been deployed in Nuh and the police force has been directed to strictly deal with anybody violating orders of the administration, he said.