After continuing their dharna protest for 13 days in 19 districts of Haryana, the Jat leaders will on Saturday meet the Haryana Government’s committee to put forth their demands.
All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti chief Yashpal Malik, who is spearheading the ongoing Jat quota stir in Haryana, will meet the State Government’s appointed five- committee headed by Chief Secretary DS Dhesi at Panipat. This is the first meeting between the representatives of AIJASS and State Government ever since the Jat protest began in the State.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Ram Niwas, who is also a member of committee while talking to the mediapersons said that the meeting will be held at Panipat and all Jat leaders have been invited for the meeting.
Jat leader Yashpal Malik said, “I, along with other members of AIJASS will attend the meeting. While bringing their proposal, the Government’s committee should come with an open mind to resolve our issues which has been pending for long, said he while adding that there had been agreements with the State Government on Jat demands thrice in the past.”
Besides seeking quota in education and Government jobs, the demands of the Jats include the release of those jailed during last year's agitation in February, withdrawal of cases slapped during the protest and government jobs for the kin of those killed and compensation to those injured while taking part in the stir.
There is also a demand of action against BJP MP from Kurukshetra Raj Kumar Saini for his alleged anti-Jat rants.
Malik said that the Jats in Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, should be included in OBC category for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. Besides, the Haryana Government should put forth a strong case in the Court to vacate the stay on reservation to Jats, said he.
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.
Malik denied that Jat leader Hawa Singh Sangwan would be part of the AIJASS delegation for the meeting. Criticising Sangwan, he said, “Sangwan proved himself as a Government agent.”
The Manohar lal Khattar Government had earlier this week formed a five-member committee, headed by CS to hold talks with Jat leaders to consider their demands and resolve the problems of those agitating for reservation among other issues in the state.
While Jat leaders Hawa Singh Sangwan and Sube Singh Sumain had last month met Chief Minister and assured not to participate in the ongoing Jat agitation and maintaining peace in the State, Jat leader Malik had earlier refused to held talks with the State Government.
Sources said that the State Government has gathered the information related to accused in various cases related to violence during last year’s agitation. The Government is considering withdrawing the cases and releasing those youth, who are not accused of heinous crimes during the Jat agitation last year.
Out of the 2100 cases registered during the violence, about 1,350 have been withdrawn where as hearing is on in the remaining cases.
Meanwhile, the situation remained peaceful in the state as on the 13th day of agitation on Friday. The main Opposition party in Haryana, INlD, has openly come out in support of the agitating Jats this time.
During the fresh round of agitation, the protesters have been staging dharnas at various places in the state amid elaborate security arrangements. Paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, while the state police is maintaining a strict vigil.
The Jat protest also began in Gurugram on Friday taking the number of districts to 20, where peaceful Jat dharnas are being held.
The call for the fresh stir was given by certain Jat outfits, especially those owing allegiance to AIJASS. The Jats have announced that February 19 would be observed as 'Balidan Divas' in memory of those who lost their lives during last year's agitation.
The Chief Minister Khattar had earlier said the State Government had accepted the demand of Jats for giving jobs to the next of kin of those who had lost their lives during the agitation last year.
As many as 31 people were killed and property worth crores was damaged at many places in Haryana during last year's Jat stir which had turned violent. However, this time the state has been put on maximum alert.
Rohtak and some of its neighbouring districts, including Sonipat and Jhajjar, were the worst-hit by the violence last year.