Jats begin relay fast, to boycott CM’s rally

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Jassia (Rohtak), June 9

Members of the Jat community, who have been protesting at Jassia village on the Rohtak-Panipat National Highway No. 709 since Sunday, started a relay fast today. As many as 23 agitators observed fast today.

The protesters not only decided to boycott Chief Minister Manohar Lal’s rally at Meham in the district tomorrow but also urged the Chief Minister to cancel the rally as “it could trigger a law-and-order issue for which they (Jats) would not be responsible”.

Representatives of the protesters maintained that as per inputs received by them, supporters of the BJP’s Kurukshetra MP Rajkumar Saini could indulge in desecration of the statue of some prominent personality in a bid to defame the Jat community. They urged the local administration as well as state authorities to be watchful.

The local police and administrative authorities have made elaborate arrangements to ensure the security of the Chief Minister during the Meham rally . Apart from the police , Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have also been deployed at the rally venue. Rohtak DC Atul Kumar and SP Shashank Anand visited the rally venue today to supervise the arrangements.

The agitators, who have been staginga dharna at the behest of the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti led by Yashpal Malik, also took exception to the statements issued against Malik by leaders of the ruling party.

Rohtak Divisional Commissioner Chander Prakash said the local administration was in constant touch with the protesters and efforts were being made to persuade them to reach an amicable settlement. “Senior officials meet the protesters daily after the dharna to know their stance. We have been telling them to keep their agitation peaceful and let us know of the specific instances of injustice, if any. They have also been advised to wait for the outcome of the High Court hearing as the matter is sub judice,” he maintained.

Sources maintained that the agitators were trying to garner more support from nearby villages and other Jat-dominated areas to strengthen their agitation and put pressure on the government.

The main demands of the protesters include the withdrawal of cases registered in connection with the agitation staged in February, release of “innocent” persons arrested in this connection, grant of proper compensation and government jobs to next of kin of the deceased and ensuring the provision of reservation to Jats in Haryana and at the Centre.

The dharna remained peaceful with a heavy posse of police and RAF personnel having been deployed at the protest site.

DC invites agitators for talks

Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Atul Kumar has invited leaders/representatives of the protesting members of the Jat community for talks at Canal Rest House in Rohtak at 4.30 p.m. tomorrow.