High drama unfolded during an Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) protest in Rohtak on Monday, as Rania MLA Arjun Chautala engaged in a heated argument with Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Rajpurohit. The protest, led by Chautala, was against the rising prices of petrol, diesel, CNG, and LPG. The incident occurred at the Mini Secretariat, where protesters had gathered to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the district administration.
Protesters Demand DC's Presence
The protesters insisted that Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sachin Gupta personally receive the memorandum. However, Gupta was reportedly attending an official training program and had deputed Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ashish Kumar to receive it. The protesters refused to hand over the memorandum to any official other than the DC and staged a dharna, blocking the road outside the Mini Secretariat, which led to traffic disruption.
Heated Exchange Between Chautala and SP
The situation escalated when the DC arrived with the SP to receive the memorandum. Chautala took a dig at the DC, prompting the SP to intervene. The MLA reacted sharply, saying, "Mujhe yeh mat batayiye ki mujhe kya bolna hai. Main apne hisab se bolunga. Hum kaafi der se yahan baithe huye hain….Pahli baat, main aapse baat nahi kar raha… Aap apni duty kijiye…" Other police officers then intervened to calm the situation.
Earlier Protests and Political Remarks
Earlier, the protesters took out a march and raised slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. They waited for the DC and later went inside, insisting on meeting him, but police did not allow access. The SDM arrived to receive the memorandum, but the protesters refused to hand it over.
Chautala stated that inflation had made life difficult for people and accused the BJP government of failure on all fronts. He also targeted the Congress party, alleging that it was disconnected from public issues and practiced politics from air-conditioned rooms, while INLD worked on the streets for the people.
Anonymous Officer's Statement
An officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that the protesters had been informed in advance about the DC's engagement and the SDM's authorization to receive the memorandum.
