Jat Agitation: Panel Weighs Legal & Socio-Economic Options
The Jat agitation enters Day 10. The protests have claimed 19 lives so far and have left 183 injured.
- Committee set up by BJP discussed legal and socio-economic aspects.
- Jat Quota Agitation withdrawn from Bharatpur in Rajathan.
- Supply of fuel and cooking gas restored in most cities.
- Venkaiah Naidu calls Haryana BJP MP Rajkumar Saini for a meeting on Wednesday.
- Thirty five non-Jat community members threaten to hold protest in Jind
- Agitation enters tenth day. Jat leaders have called off protests but sporadic isolated incidents reported.
- Death toll reaches 19; 183 injured.
- Damages may amount to Rs 34,000 crore, says PHD Chamber of Commerce; 33 Haryana Roadways buses have been set on fire and 99 others damaged.
- 320 cases have been registered against protesters and 102 persons have been arrested.
- Sonepat police directs schools, colleges to be closed till Wednesday.
- Haryana CM Khattar, ministers to meet Venkaiah Naidu at 3.30 pm.
Venkaiah Naidu Panel Discuss Legal and Socio-Economic Aspects
The high-powered committee set up by BJP on Tuesday held deliberations with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and weighed various options before it for providing reservation. The committee has agreed to the principle of the demand for reservation.
The panel, headed by Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, examined various socio-economic and legal aspects as also the position adopted by previous governments on the vexed issue of Jat reservation during the hour-long meeting.
Sources said the meeting discussed the course taken by the agitation in the last few years and sought to ascertain the socially and economically backward communities in the state.
They also discussed how courts have reacted to the issue in the past.
Protestors Withdraw Agitation in Rajasthan
The Jat community in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur withdrew their stir on Tuesday following an assurance by the state government that a bill will be brought in the upcoming assembly session to include them in the OBC category.
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu called all BJP MPs from Haryana for a meeting at 9:30 am on Tuesday.
Fuel Supply Restored in Most Cities
With day-to-day life limping back to normalcy, supply of fuel and cooking gas almost returned to normal in most cities, except Sonepat, Hissar and Bhiwani – the epicenters of the stir.
In the 10-day stir which saw arson and violence in several parts of the state, 26 petroleum outlets were vandalized by mobs.
The supplies of fuel and LPG were severely hit in the worst-affected areas – Rohtak, Bhiwnai, Jhajjar, Jind, Sonepat and Kaithal, where people faced shortage of petrol, diesel, and domestic gas.
An official said on Tuesday:
Non-Jat Communities Threaten to Hold Protest in Jind
Leaders of 35 non-Jat communities on Tuesday threatened to launch a protest if any action is taken by BJP against its party MP Raj Kumar Saini in connection with the Jat stir for quota.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday had issued a show-cause notice to party MP Raj Kumar Saini for making comments ‘opposing’ Jat reservation.
BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini on Tuesday told ANI:
Attacking BJP, a backward class leader Surya Prakash said that the party was trying to shift the blame for the agitation on Saini.
Khattar Meets Senior Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu
The BJP has appointed a high-powered committee, headed by senior Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, to examine the demand of quota for Jats in central government jobs.
The meeting will be attended by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday to ascertain the state’s views on the subject of Jat reservation.
Meanwhile, in Jind, one of the Jat dominated areas in Haryana, the district administration has lifted the curfew.
Audio of Hooda’s Aide Inciting Jat Protest Leaves Cong Embarrassed
The Congress party has sought an explanation from former Chief Minister BS Hooda’s aide Professor Virender over a leaked controversial audio clip. In the clip Virender is accused of talking to a Khap leader in order to allegedly incite violence amid the ongoing Jat agitation.
Khattar said there will be a probe into the audio clip adding that a committee will be formed for investigation.
Read the transcripted conversation here.
Khattar: Every Community in Haryana is Treated Equally
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Haryana Chief Minister said that Haryana is one of the progressive states which has a lot of possibilities within itself.
He also added that the innocent people who died during the ongoing agitation will be compensated.
Khattar Assures Action Against Protesters
Khattar and two ministers will now head to the capital where they will attend a meet at 3.30 pm with Venkaiah Naidu at his residence.
Haryana Government Asked to File Status Report
Punjab & Haryana High Court asks Haryana government to file status report on the Jat agitation by February 29.
Protesters also set a goods train on fire at Helak Railway Station in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur.
The Carnage in Rohtak
Khattar in Rohtak
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar reaches Rohtak to take stock of the situation. Later, he and two ministers will go to Delhi to meet Venkaiah Naidu.
Curfew Lifted in Rohtak
The curfew imposed on Rohtak has now been lifted, media reports say.
According to ANI, the Chandigarh-Delhi highway has also been opened up after protesters had blocked it.
Samjhauta Express Remains Cancelled
The operation of the Samjhauta Express between India and Pakistan, suspended due to the protests will resume from Thursday, the Pakistan Railways said.
The train and bus services between the two countries were suspended following widespread protests by the Jat community in Haryana that have cut off road and rail links to Delhi.
Centre Summons Haryana CM and Ministers
The five-member committee led by Venkaiah Naidu to examine the matter of Jat reservations has summoned Haryana chief minister ML Khattar along with ministers OP Dhankar and Captain Abhimanyu to Delhi.
The ministers will also visit Rohtak, the epicentre of the protests.
Jat Leaders Call Off Strike, Isolated Sporadic Agitation Still on
Jat leaders have called off their protests after a pledge from the government for more reservation in government jobs. But isolated incidents of violence are still trickling in.
The maximum damage has been witnessed at Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonepat and Bhiwani where curfew had been imposed. Water supply to Delhi which had been stopped on Friday, was restored on Monday evening.
Transportation to and from the protest sites were hampered – around 100 trains are still cancelled; NH-10 and Delhi-Chandigarh highway which were blocked have now been cleared.
Rajnath Apprises PM of the Situation
The five-member committee formed by the Centre to look into the demands of the community met late Monday night and took stock of the situation. Home minister Rajnath Singh met PM Narendra Modi and apprised him of the situation.
The Haryana state cabinet has decided to introduce a bill on Jat reservation in the coming assembly session, reports said.
The state government has announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the victims.
Meanwhile both Pakistan and India have decided to extend visas to each others citizens who are stranded due to the agitation.
India’s Supreme Court has previously struck down an attempt to classify the Jats as an OBC caste.
Jats have blamed successive regimes in Haryana for failing to live up to their promises of granting those rights to the community.
Also read: Sorry, Jats of Haryana. You’re Just Not Backward Enough.
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