At the time when the state is witnessing a tense calm following the violence during nine-day long Jat quota stir, the Jat agitation has now triggered a massive political upheaval and reignited the debate on Jat and non-Jat divide not only in the state but also in Haryana Cabinet.
Following the BJP led State Government’s poor response to contain the violence during Jat stir, the State Cabinet is now busy chalking out a strategy to tone down the anger in Haryana’s residents and its own Ministers over various issues related to Jat reservation.
Amid hectic activities to normalize the situation across the state, a meeting of few Cabinet Ministers and MlAs was held under Chief Minister Manohar lal at his residence on Thursday to review the situation.
Sources said that Cabinet Ministers Anil Vij, Kavita Jain, Rao Narbir Singh, MlA Gian Chand Gupta among other MlAs met the Chief Minister to raise the issue of compensation being given to the families affected due to damage to their property during agitation.
“The Ministers and MlAs demanded that full compensation at the earliest should be given to those whose property was destroyed by Jat community rioters during the nine days long protest. To calm down the angry residents and build their faith in the State Government, the BJP leaders have also demanded that strict action should be taken against the rioters and guilty should not be spared due to political pressure. The leaders have also demanded for judicial inquiry into the incidents of arson and looting during the Jat quota stir in the state, said sources.
The BJP leaders have also expressed disapproval over the announcement of compensation of Rs10 lakh and a job to the next of the kin of those who were killed in the violence. The leaders have suggested that compensation should be first released to those who suffered huge losses due to property damage.
Notably, Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij and Food and Supplies Minister, Karan Dev Kamboj in the Manohar lal Khattar government had expressed their pleasure over the handling of Jat agitation by the Manohar lal Khattar led State Government.
A day before, Vij also expressed his disapproval at the Government’s announcement of a compensation of Rs10 lakh and Government job to the next of the kin of those who were killed in the violence.
After days of turmoil, Rohtak and many other towns in the state are divided between Jats, who took to the streets seeking job quotas, and non-Jats who bore the brunt of their anger. Rohtak had witnessed maximum violence during the Jat agitation.
Although Jats are in majority in Rohtak district, the town is also home to tens of thousands of Punjabis, Banias, Sainis, Brahmins and Yadavs. Until now, caste differences never led to such acute conflict in the state.
The Jat and non-Jat divide is now also apparent in the state BJP leaders following the Jat quota protest.
A day before, a meeting of Haryana BJP MPs held in Delhi under Union Minister Venkiah Naidu on Jat reservation issue saw two groups including Jats and non-Jats leaders having different opinion over the reservation issue. Soon after the meeting ended, non-Jat Rao Inderjit Singh and Raj Kumar Saini reiterated that the OBC quota of 27 per cent reservation should not be tampered with to give reservation to the Jats.
Sources said that another meeting of BJP leaders have been convened in New Delhi on Saturday to discuss the Jat reservation issue.
A central committee under Union Minister Venkiah Naidu was announced on Sunday by BJP to examine the issue of giving reservation to Jat community in jobs and educational institutions.
Rahul Gandhi calls Haryana Cong leaders
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has called former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, ClP leader Kiran Chaudhry for a meeting in New Delhi following the allegations leveled against Congress for inciting violence during Jat agitation in Haryana. A day before, Haryana Police had booked Hooda’s close aide Prof Virender over an audio clip of his conversation in which he allegedly incited violence during the Jat quota stir. Prof Virender and Capt Maan Singh Dalal have been booked under Sections 109 (Punishment of Abetment), 153 (Provocation with intent to cause riot), 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence and language etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 124-A (Sedition) and 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy).
Apply online to claims losses
All the affected persons of the recent law and order disturbances in Haryana can apply online at www.ulbharyana.gov.in for the claim of their loss to commercial or residential properties and damage of vehicles and those applying online need not submit their application form manually. A spokesman of Urban local Bodies Department said that the government has decided to give an interim or part assistance immediately to those who would submit their details on a prescribed proforma on the basis of self-assessment of the damage caused to their properties and vehicles in the agitation. He said that applicants can claim upto 25 per cent as an interim relief.
Train b/w Delhi and Chandigarh resumed
Train services, including passenger trains, from Delhi to Chandigarh have been resumed in Haryana after the recent agitation. An official spokesman said that the damaged railway lines at Rajlu Garhi railway station in district Sonepat have been repaired to resume rail services between Delhi and Chandigarh. He said that minor repair work was still being carried out on the railway line.
“Happening Haryana Summit” to be organized as per schedule
Though it was expected that the unabated violence during the quota agitation by Jats in Haryana would also cast a shadow over the “Happening Haryana Global Investors Summit-2016” on March 7-9, the State Government has decided to organize the investors’ summit as per its schedule. A meeting to review the arrangements for the Summit was held here. Through the Summit, the State Government plans to attract investment worth over Rs1 lakh crore. “Happening Haryana Global Investors’ Summit-2016” is scheduled to be held in Gurgaon on March 7 and 8 to attract entrepreneurs and investors. Besides, Pravasi Haryana Divas will be held on March 9, 2016 at Gurgaon.
SIT formed to look to incidents of arson and looting in Rohtak
A special investigation team has been formed to look into the incidents of arson and looting during the Jat quota agitation that turned violent in Rohtak. A police officer informed that SIT has been constituted which is identifying the rioters during the protest. As many as 69 people have been arrested by Thursday noon during the ongoing investigations.