Abhay Chautala addresses Jat protesters; Vij attacks Oppn

Abhay Chautala addresses Jat protesters; Vij attacks Oppn
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The fresh round of pro-quota agitation by Jats continued for the eleventh consecutive day today with INlD leader Abhay Chautala addressing their gatherings at many places while state minister Anil Vij accused the Opposition of "provoking" the protestors.

The state remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported, officials here said here.

Addressing sit-ins by the members of the Jat community at Rohtak, Jhajjar, Jind and Kaithal, Chautala said his party favours continuation of reservation given to Jats and five other communities.

"We will raise the issue in the next session of the Assembly," he said.

He said his party had doubted the intention of the government in giving reservation to Jats and five other communities right from the beginning.

"That is is why the matter has got stuck in the courts," he said.

Meanwhile, state minister Anil Vij charged the Opposition of "provoking" the Jat community "holding dharnas in a peaceful manner".

"The Jats are sitting peacefully, but they are not able to digest this. They want to provoke them. Yesterday, Congress leader Anand Singh Dangi also addressed a gathering of Jats in Rohtak, where he made a political speech, which was rightly opposed by the gathering which he addressed.

He said the Jat community knows the "gameplan" of the Opposition, which wants to disturb peace and therefore they won't fall into their trap.

"I am hopeful that Jat community will give dharnas in a peaceful manner," he said.

After the Jats violent agitation in February, the state government had brought in laws to provide reservation to them and five other communities under a newly-carved Backward Classes (C) category.

However, the High Court stayed it, acting on a public interest litigation, after which some Jat groups announced the fresh stir.

Earlier, a meeting with Jat leaders was fixed for June 15, but now it would be held on June 17 on request made by them, Chief Minister Khattar had said.

Members of All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti have been staging dharnas at various places, mostly in Rohtak, Sonepat, Jind and Hisar districts in support of their demands - with some even sitting on fast unto death.

Three months after their violent agitation left 30 people dead, the state government has made tight security arrangement this time.

Nearly 20,000 security personnel including approximately 6,000 personnel of the Central Forces are keeping a strict vigil on the Jat agitation this time.

A special round-the-clock control room has been set up in Chandigarh to monitor the situation.

The protesters are demanding quota under the OBC category, withdrawal of cases registered against community members during the previous stir, status of martyr for those killed and jobs for their next of kin, besides compensation to the injured.

Daily Pioneer
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