Jat leader Yashpal Malik on Wednesday warned the BJP-led Haryana Government to refrain from “dictatorial attitude” as the ongoing Jat quota agitation entered its fourth day in the State.
Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar hit back at Malik for threatening the State Government, saying some leaders from other States are doing politics in Haryana and vitiating the peaceful atmosphere by misguiding the people for their vested interests.
Amid elaborate security arrangements across the state, the Jats held peaceful dharnas in 19 districts of the state. Seeking release of youths arrested during the Jat agitation last year, jobs to kin of Jats killed in the agitation and action against officials responsible for firing on Jat agitators, the Jats continued their agitation in 19 districts of Haryana.
The call for the fresh Jat stir has been given by some Jat outfits, especially those owing allegiance to All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti headed by Yashpal Malik.
Malik on Wednesday addressed various Jat dharnas in the state and lashed out at the Manohar lal Khattar Government for threatening the Jats, who are holding peaceful dharnas in various parts of Haryana. He alleged that this shows the "dictatorial attitude" of the Haryana government.
A day after the Haryana government gave powers to deputy commissioners to exercise powers given under the National Security Act, 1980, if required, to deal with the protesters, Malik said that the State Government can not threaten us by making such announcement.
He demanded that ruling BJP should "first control its own MP (from Kurukshetra) Raj Kumar Saini (over alleged anti-Jat rants) and leader Roshan lal Arya before talking of invoking NSA."
Malik said that in the coming days the number of protesters will swell at the dharna sites in support of their various demands.
Hitting back, Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar while speaking at a function in Kurukshetra said that the State Government has got a Bill passed for providing reservation to Jats in consultation with all stakeholders. Now when the court has stayed the Bill, the matter would have to be dealt with in a legal manner only, said he, as the ongoing Jat quota agitation entered fourth day on Wednesday.
He said that the State Government has appointed a senior advocate to plead the case in the court and hoped the state would be successful in getting the stay vacated. Once the stay is vacated, the State Government would request the Centre to include the Act in the 9th Schedule, said the Chief Minister while referring to the reservation demand of Jat community.
Referring to the incidents during the Jat reservation agitation last year in February, the Chief Minister held out the assurance that innocent persons would not be harassed unnecessarily, and those found guilty, would not be spared.
Out of the 2,100 cases registered during the violence, about 1,350 have been withdrawn whereas hearing is on in the remaining cases. Such issues could be resolved through mutual dialogue for which doors are always open, he said.
Expressing sympathy with the families of 31 youths who had lost their lives during the agitation, the Chief Minister said the State Government had provided free treatment facility to those who were seriously during the incidents.
Recently, representatives of various khap panchayats had met me in Chandigarh and gave the assurance that they would not support such people, who are trying to disturb peace and brotherhood in the state, said he, while referring to AIJASS chief Yashpal Malik.
Apart from the quota demand, the Jat agitators are demanding release of arrested Jat youths from jails, withdrawal of cases registered during last year’s agitation and grant of government jobs to the kin of youths killed and those injured during the earlier stir.
Referring to Jat leader Yashpal Malik, without naming him, Finance Minister, Capt Abhimanyu said asked the people to be cautious against those leaders who are outsiders and trying to misguide them for their vested interests.
Some leaders have always done politics based on caste, region and religion and filled their own coffers, he added.