Punjabis, Sainis face wrath of protesters

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 21

Members of Punjabi and Saini communities have largely been in the line of Jat agitators during the ongoing violence on reservation issue.

No particular reasons can be assigned for the agitators’ wrath against Punjabis, but members of Saini community presumably invited Jats’ anger due to alleged irresponsible statements of BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini.

Notably, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is a Punjabi and a section of Punjabis see this as a reason behind attack on their houses and business establishments.

In Rohtak, members of Punjabi, Saini and some other non-Jat communities alleged that the youths agitating to press for the grant of reservation to Jats specifically targeted their showrooms, hotels/restaurants, schools, shops and other commercial establishments.

They maintained barring a few exceptions, the establishments of the Jats located nearby were spared. However, some residents maintained while the Jat youths ransacked and burnt shops, a majority of loot was carried out by the youths of Balmiki and other non-Jat communities.

Groups of youths belonging to Saini, Balmiki and Punjabi communities also held meetings and planned retaliation, as a result of which tension prevailed in the town today.

In Jhajjar too, people of Punjabi and Saini communities are mainly being targeted by Jat protesters in the city as the business establishments torched by the protesters yesterday were being run by Punjabis and Sainis. Five out of six shops near main bus stand that were set ablaze belong to Punjabis.