Under fire for failing to contain the violent Jat agitation in the State, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar had to face the wrath of Rohtak residents on Tuesday during his visit to the town.
The Chief Minister visited Rohtak, which saw the maximum violence and damage during the nine-day agitation, on Tuesday by helicopter as most areas of Haryana are still limping to normalcy.
Rohtak residents, including the traders who have suffered heavy financial losses due to the incidents of arson during the Jats agitation for grant of reservation, gheraoed Khattar’s car, showed black flags and also raised slogans against the Chief Minister and local police.
Security personnel had a tough time getting Khattar seated in his car and clearing the way from the protesting residents. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Ministers Capt. Abhimanyu and O P Dhankar and Chief Secretary DS Dhesi during his visit.
Addressing the angry crowd at Rohtak, the Chief Minister assured them that strictest possible action will be taken against those who indulged in arson.
“The Jat agitation is not a small issue and will be probed thoroughly,” said Khattar while addressing the angry crowd. “We will fully compensate the losses of people who have suffered,” Khattar assured the traders whose shops were looted and torched by the rioters.
When asked about action against police and rioters by crowd, the Chief Minister said, “There are some forces behind the recent incidents. We will get it probed. The role of officers, especially from the police, would be probed and strict action taken if they are found wanting in carrying out their duties during the agitation.”
The residents continued with the demands of CBI inquiry into the violent protests, suspension of police officials and deputy commissioner.The angry crowd also hurled questions at Chief Minister asking him if the curfew was only for us and not for the rioters.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, the Chief Minister was forced to cut short his speech and was taken to the local Police lines, from where he was flown to Delhi in a helicopter. Rohtak Administration had relaxed the curfew for four hours on Tuesday to allow people to buy essential items.
Meanwhile, Haryana BJP chief Subash Barala also faced angry crowd during his visit to Kaithal on Tuesday. People shouted slogans of “Jat neta vapis Jao” in Barala’s presence when he was reviewing situation and meeting people in Kaithal.
The violence during Jat agitation led to 19 deaths, including three people killed in firing by security forces on rioters blocking the NH-1 in Sonipat district on Monday. Over 200 people have been injured in the frenzy that has ravaged the state bordering Delhi.
The loss to property is estimated to be in hundreds of crores in the state. The Jat community's quota agitation even crippled rail and road transport to and from the national capital to Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.