Central forces deployed; Rohtak, Hisar put on alert
Central forces deployed; Rohtak, Hisar put on alert
Having faced a lot of flak for its handling of the Jat quota agitation last month, which claimed 30 lives across the state, the Haryana government is bracing for renewed protests by the community, as in a last-ditch effort it has invited Jat leaders for talks on Friday with a promise of getting a bill providing reservations passed in the state Assembly in its ongoing Budget Session.
Highly-placed sources in New Delhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conveyed a message to the state government through Union home minister Rajnath Singh that there should be no scope for any laxity in maintaining law and order, unlike the slippages seen last month, when agitators ran riot in several towns of Haryana leading to large-scale looting and killing of people.
The Jat leaders, who issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the state government to address their demands by Thursday (March 17), said they will take a decision on their future course of action after meeting Haryana’s chief secretary and director-general of police on Friday afternoon.
Mr Rajnath Singh was in direct touch with the Haryana government all through Thursday and chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar is learnt to have briefed him on the law and order situation and deployment of forces. The home minister later briefed the PM on the preparedness of the state government in the face of a renewed stir that may be launched by the Jat leaders.
The main focus of deployment of forces is around the Munak Canal, one of the major sources of water supply to the nation’s capital, and other key installations, primarily to ensure that water supply is not hit this time. In the earlier agitation, protesters damaged the Munak Canal, located around 100 km from Delhi, disrupting water supply to the city for several days.
Sources said steps were being taken to ensure that the agitation does not spiral out of control this time. The state government machinery is at work, holding back-channel talks to keep the situation in control and pre-empt another standoff. Central forces are already being deployed on the ground to prevent any disruption of law and order.
Official sources said the Centre had sent 80 companies (800 personnel) of paramilitary forces to the state, that are being deployed in sensitive areas like Rohtak and Jhajjar districts, the worst-affected in the first phase of the agitation last month.
The Haryana government has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in Rohtak, Hisar and adjoining districts of the state. An alert has been sounded in Rohtak, Hisar and other districts amid fears of an outbreak of fresh violence.
The Jat leaders are preparing to hold discussions on their demands with state officials. “We have been invited by the government for talks on Friday in Chandigarh,” All India Jat Aarakshan Sanghursh Samiti president Yashpal Malik said, adding their leaders will be meeting Haryana’s chief secretary and director-general of police. “Till then we will not resume our agitation,” he said, adding that the next course of action will be decided after meeting the top officials.
On Thursday evening, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said the Jat reservation bill may be brought in the current Assembly session “on any day”. He said: “The Jat Reservation Bill is being drafted after consideration of every aspect and discussions with all stakeholders. This bill may be introduced in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on any day during the ongoing Budget Session.”
Akhil Bhartiya Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti president Hawa Singh Sangwan said: “The Haryana government should introduce the Jat Reservation Bill at the earliest. To clear uncertainties, the government must announce the date.”
State finance minister Abhimanyu had earlier said: “We are sure that the bill will be passed during this session.” He told reporters it was taking time to draft the bill as the government wanted to make sure the new law does not get entangled in a legal quagmire. He asked Jat outfits to give their suggestions on the draft legislation for their benefit instead of giving ultimatums on resuming protests.
“Instead of giving ultimatum, the Jat leaders should give their suggestions for drafting a bill which will benefit the people of Haryana. It (ultimatums) will not help the state,” Mr Abhimanyu said.
Various Jat organisations had on Monday threatened to resume their quota agitation, which rocked the state last month, if the Manohar Lal Khattar government does not meet their demand by March 17.
