Jat agitation remains peaceful

CHANDIGARH: Even as Haryana remained tense on Sunday, the Jat reservation agitation unlike last time in February remained peaceful on Sunday. High alert has been declared in the Nine districts of Southern Haryana.

The state wide protest call given by Akhil Bharatiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti ( ABJASS)could not manage massive backing it was expecting from the Khap Panchayats. The protest was largely confined to Rohtak district. The protestors gathered at Jassia village, about 20km from Rohtak city.

Though Jat leaders have committed to protest peacefully, a wary business community, not taking chances was seen guarding their shops. Many had moved the expensive belongings to far flung places in advance.

ABJASS Rohtak Unit incharge Ashok Balhara, says, “The protests will be peaceful. At the same time we will not get up from here till we see the government doing something. We have been listening to false promises for so long; now, no more.” Mr. Balhara said.

So far 55 companies of paramilitary force have reached the state to deal with the agitation. Companies of paramilitary force included CRPF, RAF, ITBP and BSF.
Haryana Home Secretary Ram Niwas says, “No untoward incident was reported from any part of the State. Also, the traffic was normal as neither any highway nor any railway line was blocked by the protesters.” Mr Ram Niwas said that in many districts, no protests were staged. "However, at some places where the protesters sat on dharna, they submitted the memorandums to the Deputy Commissioner concerned and lifted the dharna."

Manohar Lal led BJP Government that came under criticism after the violent agitation in February seems to be well prepared to take the hooligans head on.

Haryana Additional Director General Police,Law and Order, Mohamad Akil says, “The Government is following the policy of zero tolerance. Paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive areas of the State. We have adequate number of police personnel and if any anti-social element or organization indulged in blocking State Highway or National Highway or any other road or railway line, stern action would be taken against such elements without any delay.”

BJP Government in Haryana got a major set back, after the Punjab and Haryana high court stayed the reservation for Jats and four other communities provided by the Haryana government under a newly carved Backward Classes (C) category.

This flared the tempers of Jat community. The high court had passed this order while hearing a petition challenging the constitutional validity of The Haryana Backward Classes (reservation in services and admission in educational institutions) Act 2016 that was passed unanimously by the state assembly on March 29.

As a fallout of Jat agitation that witnessed massive violence in state, Haryana Government has suspended three HCS officers and 10 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) a week back. Government initiated action after the Prakash Singh committee constituted to probe lapses on part of civil and police administration officials during Jat agitation in February, reprimanded over 90 officers including IAS/IPS officers for lapses on their part in its report on May 13.