CHANDIGARH: A new phase of the Jat quota agitation continued in different parts of Haryana as opposition party INLD lends out its support. Abhay Chautala, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, said his party favours that reservation given to Jats and five other communities should be maintained.
"Right from the beginning, we doubted the intent of the government in giving reservation to Jats and five other communities, which is why the matter has got stuck in the courts," Chautala said. On the other hand, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the issue could be sorted out through mutual dialogue. "Though the issue is with the High Court, efforts are being made to get the stay vacated," Khattar said. He added the government also offered the organisations involved in the current agitation that if they intended to hire their lawyer for pleading the case in the court, the state government is ready to pay the fee.
Activists from All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti have been staging dharnas at various places, mostly in Rohtak, Sonepat, Jind, and Hisar districts to support the demands. Some activists have been even sitting on fast unto death at several places. The violent agitation that went on for three months under the leadership of AIJASS, which resulted in the death of 30 people.
Nearly 20,000 security personnel were keeping a strict vigil on the Jat agitation this time to ensure no violence takes place. A special round-the-clock control room has been set up in Chandigarh to monitor the situation. The protesters were demanding quota under the OBC category, withdrawal of cases registered against community members during the previous stir in February, status of martyr for those killed and jobs for their next of kin, besides compensation to the injured.
