Jat body ready for talks on own terms

Geetanjali Gayatri & Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Jassia (Rohtak), February 8

Making a case for conditional talks with the Chief Secretary-headed committee constituted by the government to resolve the impasse created by the ongoing statewide agitation by Jats, the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) today insisted on holding talks in or around Rohtak.

“We are ready to hold talks, but will not go to Delhi or Chandigarh to meet government functionaries. The talks should be held in or around Rohtak. Our representatives will convey the outcome of talks to dharna committees across the state and their decision will be final,” AIJASS leader Yashpal Malik told The Tribune after addressing the agitators.

The AIJASS leader welcomed the constitution of a committee to hold talks, but stated that they had not got any formal invitation for talks from the state authorities. “This formal meeting with the committee will at least give us a peek into the mindset of Manohar Lal Khattar-led government, though the committee may not be empowered to take any decision(s) and will merely convey our demands to the state government,” said AIJASS general secretary Ashok Balhara.

Asked about their U-turn as they had earlier declined to hold any talks with the government, AIJASS leaders maintained that the state government had acceded to their demands of permission to hold dharna at certain places, no more flag marches in villages and no hounding of sarpanches, following which they had agreed to the offer for talks.

Earlier, addressing the protesters, Malik reiterated that their main demands were reservation at Central and state levels, release of youths arrested in connection with last year’s agitation, withdrawal of cases against them, regular government jobs to family members of youths killed during the agitation, adequate financial compensation for the injured, thorough investigation into cases and action against police officials responsible for triggering violence during last year’s stir. He added that the agitation would continue till all demands were met.

He pointed out that if the government could not ensure provision of reservation as the matter was sub judice, the demand for quota could be met at the Central level as there were no legal hassles there.

“The Centre had formed a high-level committee headed by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu last year to look into the demand for reservation at the Central level, but there was no progress. Such an evasive and irresponsible stance on part of the government is unacceptable and has forced the community to stage dharnas,” he asserted.