Withdraw all arson cases in 72 hrs or face stir again: Jats

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 13

Setting a 72-hour deadline for withdrawing cases registered against members of their community for the recent arson and violence during the Jat agitation in Haryana, leaders of the community today made it clear that anything less than inclusion in the Other Backward Classes category would only force them to resume their stir.

Jat and khap leaders said this during the first meeting of the committee constituted under Chief Secretary DS Dheshi to seek suggestions on the reservation Bill for Jats. The government intends to table the Bill during the Budget session.

“This time, the agitation will be far more intense. We will take it to villages. While we will submit memorandums to Deputy Commissioners tomorrow, the government has time till March 18 after which we will take to the roads again. We have warned the committee about our intentions,” a leader said, adding that they were ready for a do-or-die battle.

The representatives said that of the 27 per cent quota for Other Backward Classes divided between BC ‘A’ and BC ‘B’, the government should increase the quota of the latter by 10 per cent and include Jats. The Ahirs, Gujjars and Sainis, besides three other castes, make this category.

While the Hawa Singh Sangwan faction attended the meeting, Jat leader Yashpal Malik sent his suggestions on inclusion of Jats in the BC “B” category and raising the percentage.