BJP fears Jat quota stir may go out of control

NEW DELHI: An all-party meeting of state leaders, keeping paramilitary on stand-by and exploring the possibility of a law to give reservation to Jats were some of the steps taken by the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana, in tandem with the Centre, to end the agitation that is getting more aggressive and spreading by the day.

One protestor was killed in Rohtak in police firing on Friday. The student was shot dead when the police opened fire to control a violent mob at the residence of the Inspector-General. Several police vehicles had been set on fire by the protestors. The house of finance minister and Jat leader Captain Abhimanyu was also gheraoed by the agitators to press for their demand for reservation in government jobs.

Ten companies of paramilitary forces were rushed to Haryana to control the situation. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is monitoring the situation. BJP chief Amit Shah was in touch with the union ministers and his office bearers to discuss ways of resolving the crisis. Khattar chaired an emergency meeting of his cabinet and later held an all-party meeting.

“This agitation has become leaderless and as a result it is going haywire. Since this BJP government was formed, several development works have been undertaken and some people want to derail them,” BJP General Secretary incharge of Haryana Anil Jain said.

However, he ruled out the hand of any political party behind the agitation. BJP is in a fix as the reservation under OBC quota can’t be given to Jats in Haryana since the Supreme Court has ruled it out.

Khattar has asked the Haryana Advocate General to look into whether a Bill envisaging reservation for Jats can be brought in the Assembly, sources said. Increasing the quota for EWS from the present 10% to 20% is also an option being discussed.