Khap leaders worried over Malik’s influence

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, August 7

A meeting of khap leaders called here today to determine future course of action in support of the Jat reservation remained focused on criticising their counterpart from Uttar Pradesh, Yashpal Malik. Malik is the founder-president of the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti.

Khap leaders admitted that the community was not united on the reservation and release of Jat youths arrested during widespread violent agitation.

A majority of the khaps leaders sounded unanimous on fighting a political battle than a legal one to get reservation benefits for the Jats. Sube Singh Samain, spokesperson for the Sarv Khap Panchayats, said the reservation movement was severely affected by self-centred persons within the community.

“We suffered due to lack of unity as community members with their personal political interests backstabbed us. Even today’s meeting remained deviated from the core agenda to find methodology to fight for release of the jailed youths. The entire community needs to come together to show our political strength,” he said.

Samain called to unite and pressurise the state government for withdrawal of criminal cases registered against the Jat youths. “Practically, it is tough to gain momentum in support of the reservation, but the Jats need to be united,” he said.

“It is most important to consolidate community members for the cause of reservation. We need to understand that those languishing in jails are on the orders of various courts and their release could be possible only with the tactic pressure on the state government,” he said.

Sadhu Ram of Saharan khap called for launching ‘jail bharo’ agitation. “Steps of blocking roads and trains should be completely avoided as we have already faced consequences. There is no point in making youths die in violent protests and arrested by the police. The community should work for the release of the youths from jails,” he said.

Another khap leader Mitthan Lal blamed a section of speakers at the meeting for targeting Malik, a prominent Jat leader from Uttar Pradesh. He said as Malik had also been fighting for the Jat reservation at the national level, he should not be ignored for the same cause in Haryana.