BJP plans Jat Bill, blames Congress for Jat agitation in Haryana

NEW DELHI:With the death toll in the Jat agitation for reservations in Haryana crossing 16 and incidents of violence still being reported, BJP appeared to be engaged in a two-pronged strategy of finding ways to placate the community while pinning the blame for things getting out of hand on Congress and its leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

The five-member committee of BJP leaders, headed by union minister M Venkaiah Naidu, held its first meeting. Party sources said the mandate of the committee is to invite all Jat khaps, groups and representatives of the caste and hear their suggestions on how reservations can be provided to this community not just in Haryana but also in Centre’s Other Backward Caste (OBC) list.

Though no deadline has been set, the committee is likely to submit its report—both to BJP Chief Amit Shah and the Centre— on the issue around March 17 when the Haryana Assembly session begins. BJP has announced that it will bring a Bill for giving reservation to Jats in the budget session of the Assembly.

BJP General Secretary Anil Jain said one option before the government is to include Jats in the Backward Caste (BC) list in Haryana. The BC(A) list— that envisages OBC reservation to 16% of the backwards— comprises of castes involved in skilled labour. The remaining 11% in the 27% OBC category is for agrarian castes and this is where the Jats can be included.