With Jats threatening to launch a fresh quota agitation from January 29, Haryana Government has sent a requisition for 55 companies of central paramilitary forces and has also issued call out notice to depute 7,000 Home Guards in the State.
To maintain law and orders situation in the State during the proposed reservation protest, Haryana Police has already cancelled leaves of all its personnel till further orders.
The All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) led by Yashpal Malik has announced to hold indefinite dharnas in 19 districts to press for their demands, which include release of innocent youth arrested in connection with the quota stir in February 2016, compensation to the families of youth who were killed in the agitation and reservation for the Jat community.
“Although the leaders of various agitating organisations have assured to hold ‘dharnas’ in a peaceful manner, the administration is fully geared up to maintain law and order,” said Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Ram Niwas while talking to the mediapersons.
He said that all the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police have been directed to ensure that highways and railway tracks are not obstructed and no damage is caused to property during the protest.
All the proposed ‘dharnas’ would be videographed, he said.
Ram Niwas said that he has urged the agitating leaders to make their protest in a peaceful manner as the Government is always prepared for talks. Every citizen has the right to express his views in a democratic manner, he added.
The State Government will also deploy women rapid action force in the State during the protest.
The Jats have announced to hold dharnas in villages of 19 districts of the State from January 29 while protests in other three districts will begin in February.
Accusing the Manohar lal Khattar Government of not “fulfilling” their demands for reservation, Jat outfit led by Yashpal Malik had last week announced the fresh agitation in Haryana that had witnessed massive protests over the issue in February last year. 30 were killed and massive damage was caused to property, particularly in worst-affected districts of Rohtak, Jhajjar and Sonipat.
Malik had also announced that Jats would oppose the BJP during Assembly polls in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Chief Minister Manohar lal has already made it clear that strict action would be taken against those who would indulge in violence during protest this time.
Referring to last year’s protest which witnessed large scale violence in Haryana, the Chief Minister said that the State Government has geared up to tackle the protest this time and previous things will not be repeated now.
After February’s Jat agitation, Haryana Government had brought in a law to provide reservation for Jats and five other communities under a newly carved Backward Classes (C) category. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had stayed it, acting on a public interest litigation
Meanwhile, in view of the Assembly elections in neighbouring States, the Crisis Coordination Committee, which met under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Keshni Anand Arora has stressed the need for following the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India and carrying out coordination exercise by the adjacent district administration with their counterpart districts in the neighbouring States.