The first round of talks between the Haryana Government and Jat leaders on Sunday ended on an unsuccessful note as Jats remained adamant that all their demands should be fulfilled.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal, Union Minister Birender Singh along with senior Government officers held hectic parleys till late Sunday night in New Delhi with a delegation led by Jat leader Yashpal Malik in a bid to pacify the Jat community ahead of BJP chief Amit Shah’s visit to Jind on February 15.
The first round of meeting between Haryana Government and Jat leaders, which lasted for more than four hours failed to yield any positive result. The second round of talks was in progress till the filing of this report.
The All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) led by Yashpal Malik has announced to hold a “Bhaichara Nyaya Yatra” in Jind on February 15 to disrupt BJP chief Amit Shah’s motorcycle rally.
The AIJASS has claimed that at least 50,000 tractor trolleys will be used to block roads to Jind and disrupt BJP’s rally.
Besides reservation in Government jobs and educational institutions at Central and State-level, the Jats have been demanding the release of youths arrested during 2016 quota stir in Haryana and withdrawal of cases registered against them.
The violent Jat quota agitation 2016 had left 31 people dead and more than 200 injured in Haryana.
Last week, the Government had approved to withdraw 70 FIRs against 822 protesters from 11 districts in cases related to 2016 Jat quota violence. Prior to this in December, a similar direction was issued for the withdrawal of 15 cases in which 47 persons were accused.
So far, the Government has approved withdrawal of 223 cases, in which a total of 2,027 persons are accused.
In view of call of fresh protest announced by Jats, Haryana Police Department has cancelled leave of all personnel except in emergency cases till further orders. Besides, 150 companies of central forces have been sought by the Haryana Government to maintain law and order situation.
Also, security has already been tightened across Haryana’s Jind district ahead of February 15. The administration has deputed eight SSP, 55 DSP, 200 Inspector, 5,500 police men and 250 women police for the BJP rally. Over 450 NGOs will also take part in the security arrangement.
Over eight companies of paramilitary forces have reached the Jind Police line and as many companies will reach the spot by Monday. Apart from Jats, Indian National Lok Dal, Haryana’s main opposition party has also announced to hold a protest in Jind during Amit Shah’s programme.