A day after Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal warned that any attempt to vitiate state’s peace during the ongoing Jat agitation would be dealt strictly, Jat leaders on Wednesday announced to intensify their protest from February 19 as their agitation entered 18th day in the state.
The Jat leaders have announced convening a meeting on February 17 at Jassia village in Rohtak to chalk out strategy to mount pressure on the State Government to fulfil their demands.
Yashpal Malik, chief of Akhil Bhartiya Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, which is spearheading the Jat agitation across the state, said that a meeting of Jat leaders have been convened at Jassia village where protest dharna is going on. During the meeting, we will decide the future course of action and would announce it on February 19, said he, while talking to the mediapersons.
The ABJASS has announced to observe February 19 as ‘balidan divas’ in memory of the youth killed during Jat agitation in Haryana.
Slamming Chief Minister for his statement a day before, Malik said that the State Government should not threaten the Jat protestors as we are in favour of talks and peaceful protests.
The talks with the State Government cannot be held if the Chief Minister and his cabinet ministers continue to issue such statements, he added.
A day back after the cabinet meeting at Faridabad, Manohar lal had warned of taking strict action if any attempt is made to vitiate atmosphere of Haryana during the ongoing Jat agitation.
About the results of the ongoing talks or the strategy about handling the Jat agitation, he had said, “We are hoping for the best but prepared for the worst.”
In a similar Jat reservation stir last year in February, as many as 31 people were killed and property worth crores of rupees was damaged at many places in Haryana.
On the demands of the Jat protestors this time, the Chief Minister had also hinted at legal complications and inability in withdrawing cases registered under Sections 302, 307 of IPC.
The demands of the Jats include the release of those jailed during last year's agitation, withdrawal of cases slapped during the protest and government jobs for the kin of those killed and injured while taking part in February 2016 Jat stir in Haryana.
Besides asking Haryana Government to put forth a strong case in HC for vacating the stay on reservation given to Jats in Haryana last year, the community has also demanded reservation in central jobs and educational institutions.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had in May 2016 stayed the Manohar lal Khattar government’s decision to grant reservation to Jats and five other communities in jobs and educational institutions under the newly created backward class ‘C’ category.
The Jats have also demanded action against BJP MP from Kurukshetra constituency Raj Kumar Saini for his alleged anti-Jat rants.
Though the sit-ins have remained peaceful so far in various parts of Haryana, the Jat leaders have threatened to intensify the stir after February 19 if their demands are not fulfilled. The Jat leaders have also threatened to seal the borders of the National Capital Region in an attempt to mount pressure on the State Government to fulfil their demands.
The first round of talks held between the Jat leaders and the government appointed five-member officers committee in Panipat had remained inconclusive while the second meeting is now expected to take place this week.
The committee headed by Chief Secretary DS Dhesi was constituted last week by BJP led Haryana to hold talks with the Jat leaders to resolve their issues.
Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Ram Niwas, who is part of the government appointed committee on Wednesday conducted a meeting of deputy commissioners and senior police officials through videoconferencing to review the law and order situation in the state.
During the meeting, deputy commissioner have been asked to hold meetings with Jat leaders in their areas to ensure continuation of peaceful protests in the state and maintain law and order situation on February 19 across Haryana.
The dharnas have remained peaceful so far, said Ram Niwas.
On demands of the Jat agitators, he said that the State Government is gathering the information of injured people during last year’s stir and also considering other demands of the protestors. The second round of talks with the Jat leaders will be held soon, he added.
Following the Jat leaders warning to intensify the agitation from February 19, the State Government is closely monitoring the situation. Paramilitary forces which are deployed in some parts of Haryana conducted flag march on Wednesday.
While 37 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the state in view of Jat stir, the State Government has sought more companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre.
Notably, the report of the Haryana police criminal investigation department (CID) on the ongoing Jat protest which was leaked two days back had pointed out at the swelling gatherings at some dharna spots and stated that the possibility of miscreants mingling with protesters to disturb law and order situation could not be ruled out. An inquiry has already been marked into the leak of the report.
Sources said that the State Government has also suspended SDM Prashant Atkan, who had proceeded on leave after his conversation on Jat agitation was leaked. The alleged conversation between Hansi DSP Surender Kadiyan and SDM Prashant Atkan had went viral on social media. The SDM had accused DSP of inaction against the Jats who were posting provocative posts on social media and drinking during the protest.
Ram Niwas, Haryana Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, has directed the deputy commissioners to maintain law and order in the state and constitute coordination committees after speaking with the agitating Jat leaders to ensure that traffic is not restricted in any part of the state, roads in villages and cities remain open, and patients and candidates appearing in various examinations do not face any inconvenience.
He also directed the officers to ensure that the people participating in dharnas did not carry any weapons and no DJ was played so that the commuters did not face any inconvenience. He asked them to deal with any untoward incident through discussion.