Khaps, Malik trade barbs over ‘politics’ behind Jat stir

Sushil Manav

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 3

Khaps and Jat quota leader Yashpal Malik today traded barbs over ‘politics behind the ongoing agitation’ even as the dharnas being organised the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) entered the sixth day.

Surinder Singh Dahiya, president of Dahiya Khap, today accused Malik of fanning the agitation, so that Jats of the state were not able to go to Uttar Pradesh to support Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh’s party.

“What type of leader Malik is who claims to be a champion of Jats’ cause in Haryana and at the same time is opposing Ajit Singh in Uttar Pradesh to favour Mayawati?” Dahiya asked.

He alleged that both Malik as well as Chautalas were against Ajit Singh and wanted him to be defeated in Uttar Pradesh and the present agitation had been started only to stop Jats from Haryana going to UP to support Ajit Singh’s party.

Sube Singh Samain, spokesperson of the Sarv Khap Panchayats, alleged that the INLD, which, he said, was struggling to save its existence, was behind the agitation and it was using Malik for this.

“The state government has already accepted all major demands of Jats. Nearly 70 per cent of the 2,100 cases registered after last year’s agitation have been settled. Only 68 Jats and 11 non-Jats are in jails now. As many as 22 of them have not applied for bails, eight could not be released because they did not submit bail bonds and 21 cases are with the CBI,” Samain said.

Sukhbir Singh Hooda, vice-president and spokesperson of the All-India Jat Mahasabha, said those behind the agitation had vested interests because there was no reason left for continuing the agitation.

Malik, however, denied he was opposing Ajit Singh or supporting Mayawati in the UP elections and hit out at Dahiya and Samain calling them ‘self-style’ khap leaders.

“MS Dahiya, a former ACP in the Delhi Police, is president of Dahiya Khap and not Surender Dahiya. Similarly, Samain did not have backing of any khap,” alleged Malik.

“We have been distributing pamphlet — ‘Jat Sandesh’ — and videos of Raj Kumar Saini and Roshan Lal Arya among voters in UP. Our pamphlet simply says vote for any candidate who can defeat the BJP. We are not against Ajit Singh or for Mayawati in UP,” Malik maintained. Meanwhile, Malik said he would visit dharnas at Hisar, Jind and Kaithal on Saturday.