Under fire from the Opposition for failing to handle the Jat quota stir that claimed 30 lives last month, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar on Tuesday said a judicial enquiry would be conducted to unearth the entire conspiracy behind the violence and arson in the state.
Defending his Government’s handling of the Jat quota stir in the State Assembly while replying to the adjournment motion moved by leader of opposition and INlD’s leader Abhay Singh Chautala, the Chief Minister said that a judicial inquiry will be got conducted to unearth the conspiracy behind a series of sad and unfortunate incidents which continued for 80 hours in February.
An inquiry committee headed by former Uttar Pradesh director general of police Prakash Singh was earlier set up by the BJP led State Government to inquire into acts of omission and commission on the part of civil and police officers during the agitation.
The State Assembly witnessed discussion for about four hours during the adjournment motion on Jat quota stir during which the opposition legislators demanded judicial inquiry to unearth the conspiracy behind the incidents of arson and violence in Haryana.
Responding to the allegations of INlD’s legislators that Government failed to tackle the situation during Jat stir last month, Manohar lal said that it is completely false that the incidents occurred due to willful negligence on the part of the Haryana Government.
Drawing a comparison of Jat stir with agitation that took place in the country in the past, the Chief Minister said that Mandal Andalon continued till three months killing 28 and 1984 riots continued for 4-5 days. The State Government made all efforts to control the situation during the Jat agitation in four days, he said.
He also assured the House that the BJP led State Government will rise above party lines to take action against those involved in inciting the Jat agitation.
Hitting out at the Congress, the Chief Minister said that I donot think only Prof Virender, close aid of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is behind all such incidents and there is a bigger conspiracy. Inquiry would be conducted and guilty would not be spared, said he
He also mentioned names of Congress leaders and INlD leader Pradeep Deshwal against whom cases have been registered by the state Police.
The Chief Minister said that strict action will be taken against persons of criminal nature and innocent persons will not be unnecessarily harassed in the state.
Giving details of losses suffered by the state, he said that Haryana has suffered losses of Rs 650 on account of burning and destroying of public and private property due to Jat stir. This excludes the losses suffered by Railways, he said.
On the allegations of gang rape in Jhajjar leveled by HJC’s Kuldeep Bishnoi, the Chief Minister said that the State Government will inquire into the incident but a complaint has to be registered regarding this.
About media reports of rape and molestation during Jat stir near Murthal in Sonipat, he said that a Committee was constituted to look into this but till now, not a single complaint has been received till now.
Manohar lal also told the State Assembly the details of what all transpired between the government and the Jat and khap leaders in February.
“Despite the Government agreeing to the reservation demand, people belonging to some political parties continued to abet the agitators due to which on February 18, the agitators staged a dharna at nine places on railway tracks in the state and at 247 places on the national and state highways. The delegates who attended the February 17 meeting (in Chandigarh) told us that the agitation had been hijacked by elements who were not listening to them,” said he.
The Chief Minister said, “In order to control the violent mobs, the security forces resorted to calibrated use of force at many places from February 19 to 22. A total of 30 persons died, 320 persons sustained injuries including 72 personnel belonging to police and other security forces.”
He added that paramilitary forces and the army were called in as the agitation turned violent.
A total of 2087 criminal cases have been registered in various police stations of the state in connection with the reservation agitation and a total of 444 criminals have been arrested. Prima facie, some facts have come to our notice which point towards involvement and planning by some leaders and workers of Congress and INlD. An enquiry is going on this regard and the issue will become clearer after the completion of the inquiry, said he.
Giving information about compensation given to the affected people, he said that a sum of Rs 28.17 crore has been disbursed as interim plus final compensation in respect of 1997 claims which include 1799 claims from urban areas and 198 from rural areas.
On Jat reservation bill, the Chief Minister said, “As promised the State Government is preparing a bill to provide reservation to Jats and it would be brought in the State Assembly.”