BJP rally spells trouble for Jind

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jind, February 13

The BJP’s ‘hunkar rally’ scheduled to be held on Thursday has thrown normal life out of gear in the rural hinterland. Called the heart of Haryana, Jind has massive deployment of central security personnel.

Armed jawans can be seen all around the town, including roads leading to the venue at Pandu Pindara village, on the outskirts of the town.

BJP president Amit Shah is scheduled to address the rally, with party activists reaching the venue on more than 1 lakh motorcycles.

The state government’s elaborate efforts to make the event a success have hit the ‘aam aadmi’. Several administrative and police officials remain unavailable for the public as the entire district machinery is engaged in preparations in connection with the arrival of political dignitaries.

The scheduled plying of eight buses to adjoining districts of Punjab from the local bus stand has been suspended for the last two days.

Sources said of the 163 state roadways buses in the district, 53 were at the disposal of paramilitary and police forces. A district functionary said a demand for 10 more buses had been received.

Passengers at the Jind bus stand today complained that the plying of several buses to Chandigarh and Gurugram and on other inter-district routes had been stopped.

Commuter Rajpal Singh said he could not visit an ailing relative in Sangrur due to a sudden disruption of bus service to the Punjab town.

“It is unfortunate that the common man is facing difficulty due to political reasons. Political rallies with massive gatherings are not new to Jind, but normal life has never been jeopardised like this,” he said.

Kuldeep Rathi, a college student, said plying of roadways buses from Jind to Julana and other towns had been stopped without any prior notice.

“Private bus operators do not entertain concessional bus passes. The buses are overcrowded and the elderly and women are the worst hit,” he said.

Official sources said the situation might continue for a few more days. “Efforts are being made to get buses from other districts. A considerable fleet of Jind buses has been deputed for movement of security personnel,” said an official.

“Movement of jawans of paramilitary forces from Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi started on February 10. If the situation remains peaceful, regular bus service may resume by February 18,” he said.

Police sources said more than 20 companies of paramilitary forces and about 2,000 policemen had been deputed on order.

“The INLD and Congress have announced that they will show black flags and balloons. Following a call by the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti to disrupt the rally, paramilitary forces were summoned. They will stay put till the political event concludes,” said a BJP source.

Sec 144 in Rohtak 

Rohtak: DC Yash Garg has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC in the district. Thirteen companies of paramilitary forces have reached Rohtak to ensure of law and order. No heavy vehicle, barring Haryana Roadways and cooperative buses, will be allowed to move on the Jind road and rally-bound vehicles will not be allowed to enter Rohtak. TNS

CM confident 

Chandigarh: Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday that BJP chief Amit Shah's rally would be held without any disruption. He told this to the media on the sidelines of a function here. He said it was inappropriate for a political party to oppose the rally of another. He termed it as a cheap gimmick. TNS