Jat body to relaunch stir on January 29

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 20

The Akhil Bhartiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (ABJASS) today announced to oppose the BJP in the Assembly elections in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Sore over the state government’s alleged failure to honour ‘commitments’ made to Jats when they ended their agitation on February 22, the Samiti’s national president Yashpal Malik also announced to resume dharnas in 19 districts of the state from January 29.

The Jat agitation in February last year had ended up with death of 30 persons, damage to public and private properties worth thousands of crores and ignominious rape of women commuters near Murthal on NH-1.

Malik alleged, “The government had assured to give reservation to Jats, withdraw criminal cases and release Jat youths lodged in jails, provide compensation and free medical treatment of those injured during the stir and action against officials guilty of excesses. Though the government paid compensation to the kin of those killed, no other commitment has been honoured so far.”

He said Jats were willing to wait for reservation since the matter was sub judice, but they want all the other demands to be accepted immediately.

“Whatever happened in February last year was an accident and not a criminal activity. When the government can forget and forgive those who kill security forces in Jammu and Kashmir there was no reason for adopting a different yardstick for Jats in Haryana,” Malik reasoned.

He said Jats will start dharnas in rural areas of 19 districts of Haryana except Panchkula, Mewat and Gurgaon from January 29, till their demands were met.

Malik said the Samiti would oppose the BJP during Assembly polls in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, though he clarified Jats would not support any particular political party.

Karnail Singh Bhawra, president of the Punjab unit of the ABJASS, said they would appeal to Jats and Jat Sikhs to vote for candidates who can defeat Akali Dal – BJP contestants.