Politics takes centre stage

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, May 3

Members of the Jat community today continued their protest for the release of youths arrested in connection with the recent agitation for reservation. The protesters marched from the local Jat Bhawan to the Mini Secretariat, where they staged a dharna, volunteering to get arrested. As many as 24 protesters, including 22 women, were arrested and later released on bail.

Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Atul Kumar maintained that he had talked to the protesters and assured them of forwarding their demands to the state authorities following which they decided to put off the stir.

Meanwhile, the prevailing situation indicates that the momentum behind the Jat agitation has fizzled out while politics has taken the centre stage over the current demands for the release of “innocent” youths and withdrawal of cases registered in connection with the quota stir.

Community sources maintain that as of now, some vested interests are trying to further their political motives by prompting the community members to court arrest for the fulfilment of their demands.

Nonetheless, while a major section of the community has stayed away from the ‘jail bharo’ campaign, some members, especially those whose youths have been arrested and jailed in connection with the agitation, are participating in the drive.

The state government as well as the police authorities have maintained that no innocent person would be arrested and if any innocent person has been arrested, his family members or other supporters may submit a representation following which the evidence against him would be re-analysed and he would be released if the evidence was not found substantial.

“However, we have not received even a single specific representation in this regard during the past one month or so. We have offered all possible support to address the genuine concerns of the persons concerned, but what can we do with unreasonable demands?” asserted Rohtak Range IGP Sanjay Kumar.