As the BJP’s Central leadership stepped in to contain the worsening law and order situation in Haryana, the Manohar lal Khattar Government was apparently caught on the backfoot. Haryana remained on the edge on Sunday as fresh incidents of arson and violence shook the State as the Jat agitation for quota under OBC entered the eighth day so far claiming 11 lives.
Despite various political leaders including Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar appealing protesting Jats to maintain calm and peace, the incidents of violence and arson continued during the night in various parts of the state, crippling the normal life in worst affected places like Rohtak, Jind, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Sonipat, Hisar.
The properties worth crores have been damaged by the violent agitators so far even as curfew has been imposed in nine towns. Yet another town, Kaithal, was brought under curfew on Sunday afternoon, as the death toll in the Jat reservation agitation mounted to at least 11, while more than 150 have been injured.
Kaithal is the ninth Haryana town where curfew has been imposed, the others being Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Hisar, Hansi, Sonepat and Gohana town of Sonipat district
The Jat agitation was seen as the biggest test for the debutant BJP government in the state, which came to power in October 2014, as it also threatened to affect neigbouring states, such as Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan, with hundred of goods trucks and trains stranded. However, non-Jat Chief Minister Manohar lal failed to appease the Jat agitators following a series of talks with their leaders in the past one week.
The Jat leaders had been warning of protest for months altogether, but the State Government paid no heed. The BJP Government apparently had no idea the scale and intensity of the protest would be so high.
Following the assurance by Central BJP leaders of giving reservation to the Jats, the Chief Minister is now likely to visit Rohtak, the epicentre of Jats stir for quota, to take stock of the situation in the town. Khattar along with some of his senior Ministers and top officials is closely monitoring the situation
The CM continued appealing the people to maintain law and order in the state. “No one will be benefited by damaging public property. I urge everyone not to be swayed by unfounded rumours and maintain peace in the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, Haryana Government has ordered IAS officers namely Anil Malik, Devender Singh and Saket Kumar would also function as special Officers for Gohana, Sonipat and Kalanaur, respectively, for the purpose of restoring peace and order in these areas. They have been directed to immediately rush to these areas. These officials have been empowered to concurrently exercise all the powers available to a District Magistrate under the relevant Acts for this purpose in these areas.
The unabated violence during the quota agitation by Jats in Haryana is likely to cast a shadow over the “Happening Haryana Global Investors Summit-2016” on March 7-9, pouring water on Chief Minister’s plan to attract investment worth over Rs1 lakh crore.