After a week-long protest that claimed 10 lives, the Jat community in Haryana is set to get reservation in government jobs under a draft legislation, to be brought up in the next assembly session, giving the community an OBC status. BJP leader Anil Jain, in charge of the party affairs in Haryana, announced the decision after meeting union ministers, party leaders, and leaders of the Jat community and khaps.
“It has been decided that in the coming assembly session, Jats will be given reservation in Haryana. In this regard, the government will bring a bill,” he said, addressing reporters. “In case of the Centre, a high-power committee will be formed which will be headed by a senior union minister.” The recent violence resorted by the Jat community, has claimed the lives of 19 people, while over 150 received injuries. The violent agitation has paralysed the entire state as the railways and highways were blocked, cutting off all northern states from Delhi. A breakthrough only came when Jat Sangharsh Samiti leader Jaipal Singh Sangwan appealed for an end to the agitation, as he said their demands had been met.
Property worth billions has been put to flames which include malls, railway stations, roadways buses, schools, vehicles, offices etc. Shoot at sight orders were in place in nine districts, including Rohtak, Bhiwani and Jhajhar. In Gurgaon even a railway booking facility centre was torched. Mobs also set the Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu's house, BJP MLA Maneesh Grover's office and several other offices in the state. Several protesters also reportedly looted a private “gun house” in Rohtak and decamped with arms and ammunition. The violence hit Jind, Hisar, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat and Sonepat, with reports of Jat agitations in neighbouring Rajashtan also doing the rounds.
The worst hit were the railways, with over 736 trains cancelled, 105 diverted besides damage to rail property, causing a loss £20 million. Ten stations were burnt, two railway engines and two track machines damaged by the agitators. Tracks were also uprooted at several locations. Important rail routes to Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir were badly affected. The state government issued orders for blocking all social networking sites. The situation rang panic bells in Capital New Delhi as the blockade on West Jamuna Canal and Delhi parallel channel hit the state's water supply. The Delhi government was forced to declare holiday in all educational institutions.
Making repairs, Haryana government announced full compensation for damage caused to private properties as well as ex-gratia of Rs 1000,000 to the kin of the 19 people killed. It also decided to give full compensation to the loss of properties, both commercial and residential.
