The Jat reservation agitation has claimed six lives as the stir in Haryana spread to other areas on Saturday, with five people being killed in firing by security forces in Rohtak, Jhajjar and Kaithal
The Jat reservation agitation has claimed six lives as the stir in Haryana spread to other areas on Saturday, with five people being killed in firing by security forces in Rohtak, Jhajjar and Kaithal districts even as the Army staged flag marches in the affected pockets.
Appealing to protesters to end their stir, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar asked agitators to “return to their homes as the government has accepted their demands”, but did not elaborate. “Such incidents create disharmony,” he said here after reviewing the situation with his ministerial colleagues and senior civil and police officers.
The BJP also tried to reach out to the Jat community and invited their representatives to hold talks with party chief Amit Shah and Union ministers.
“In a way, there is an atmosphere of anarchy (in Haryana). I appeal to the people leading the agitation to hold talks with our leadership... Youth who are at the forefront should also join talks. I appeal, pray to the people of Haryana to maintain peace and harmony,” Union minister Birender Singh said in New Delhi. He also said that the party leadership had assured them that it was in favour of reservation.
Mr Singh is the BJP’s most notable Jat leader from Haryana. Other Jat leaders — Union minister Sanjeev Balyan, a Jat from western UP, and Haryana Cabinet minister O.P. Dhankar — also appealed to the community.
Mr Singh blamed the Congress for the crisis, saying it announced reservation for Jats without due diligence due to “political reasons”, following which the Supreme Court quashed the decision.
As Haryana remained on the boil, several Haryana Roadways buses, seven railway stations, a police station and some buildings were torched by pro-quota protesters. The movement of more than 800 trains has been severely hit. The Army had to use helicopters to reach parts of blocked Rohtak district.
Curfew was clamped in five more Haryana towns — the latest being Jind, Hisar and Hansi in the evening. Earlier on Saturday, curfew was imposed in Sonipat and Gohana towns of Sonipat district. Curfew had already been clamped in Rohtak, Bhiwani and Jhajjar towns.
The country’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India, suspended operations at its two plants in Gurgaon and Manesar as component supplies have been hit by the agitation of Jats demanding job reservation.
Around 200 paramilitary personnel were airlifted to Rohtak on Saturday. Stepping in to prevent a major spillover of the agitation to surrounding states, the Centre has also asked the Haryana government to provide security to people and property by ensuring that law and order is kept under control. This was conveyed by Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha to Haryana chief secretary D.S. Dhesi and DGP Yashpal Singhal at a meeting held through video-conference. Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other senior officers were also present.
The security personnel were dispatched from Delhi’s Safdarjung airfield in batches as the trouble-torn district was cut off by road and rail network due to protests. The Centre had on Friday rushed in 3,300 paramilitary personnel and assured chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar of all possible help to maintain law and order as the stir turned violent.
Home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday called up Mr Khattar, who briefed him about the prevailing situation. Mr Singh also appealed to the people to maintain peace and order and stressed on the need for discussion and dialogue.
Joint teams of the Army and the police on Saturday carried out a flag march in Bhiwani city. The Bhiwani district magistrate has ordered to shut down all countrymade and foreign liquor vends in the district with immediate effect.
A Haryana government spokesman said that 154 first information reports have been registered and rowdy persons are being identified and stern action would be taken against them. Apart from the deaths, five persons were injured in Rohtak district and 10 persons, including some police personnel, were injured in Jhajjar.
As many as 15 companies of the India Reserve Battalion and the Haryana Armed Police, three companies of paramilitary forces and two columns of Army have already been deployed.
He said that the Central government is providing a helicopter to monitor measures to control the agitation and also spray teargas to disperse mobs, especially at blockades.
In a new twist to the agitation, there were reports of clashes between Jats and non-Jats with 10 persons being injured at Kalayat in Kaithal district and in Hansi area of Hisar district.
