Arrest Malik for sedition: Saini

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 27

All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti leader Yashpal Malik’s call asking members of the community to boycott traders not supporting the stir has been criticised by several persons, including minister Anil Vij and BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini.

While Saini has accused Malik of poisoning society with his casteist call and demanded his arrest after the registration of a sedition case, Vij has termed his call as an attempt to shatter brotherhood in society.

Malik yesterday asked members of his community to purchase daily need items and household goods only from those shopkeepers who put up posters stating that they supported the Jat agitation.

“This will destroy ‘bhaichara’ between various castes and communities in the state. Members of almost all communities are in business, but it is not necessary that all should support Jat demands,” said Vij.

Asked whether action needed to be taken against Malik, Vij said the government might contemplate some action if some tried to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the state.

He said no one was being stopped from raising one’s demands through peaceful and democratic means, but spoiling the social fabric of the state was not acceptable.

Saini said the government should put Malik behind bars after booking him for sedition on the charge of “poisoning society”.

“The manner in which Malik has been issuing inflammatory statements day in and day out and instigating youths against other communities, the chasm between Jats and non-Jats is becoming wider by the day. This is becoming a serious threat to internal security of the country,” he said.

He said members of the Jat community must realise that they would be the biggest loser in the long run in case they continued to follow Malik.

He called upon members of the Jat community to be patient and not led by persons who were out to destroy peace and tranquillity in society.

Haryana Pradesh Vyapar Mandal president Bajrang Dass Garg criticised Malik’s statement. “Farmers and traders enjoy a long and trusted relationship in the state. None should try to spoil that relationship with such statements,” he said.