Jat samiti that led quota stir removes chief Yashpal Malik over 'irresponsible' behaviour

Tribune News Service

Hisar, December 19

The All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS), which spearheaded the agitation demanding inclusion of Jats in the Other Backward Classes (OBC), today announced to remove its national president Yashpal Malik from the post and also canceled his primary membership from the samiti.

Malik faction calls decision baseless

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• Another faction of the AIJASS owing allegiance to Yashpal Malik called the general body decisions baseless
• AIJASS district president Balwan Singh Sunda said Ashok Balhara wanted to take over the Chhotu Ram Trust, which was registered by Malik and had a total of nine members
• He said Malik had dissolved the AIJASS at a meeting in Nangloi in Delhi on Oct 2

What happened when

• 2009 AIJASS launches stir, demands OBC quota for Jats
• Oct 2011 AIJASS split into two groups — one headed by Yashpal Malik, another by Hawa Singh Sangwan
• Dec 2012 Haryana Government accords special backward status, 10% quota to 5 castes, including Jats
• March 2014 Jats call off stir as Centre agrees to include Jats in OBC
• March 2015 SC strikes down Jats from OBC
• Feb 2016 Quota stir re-launched, results in massive violence across state

A general body meeting of the samiti, presided over by Satbas khap pradhan Balwan Singh Malik, was held at the Jat dharamshala in Hisar today. The meeting was attended by representatives from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The Jat agitation, which turned violent in 2016, has left a trail of destruction in many districts of Haryana. However, the AIJASS has not been active for nearly four years.

Ashok Balhara, a confidant of Malik during the Jat agitation, today said they adopted two resolutions, including that of removing Malik for his alleged irresponsible role in the farmers’ agitation.

He said Malik tried to re-launch the Jat agitation in Haryana when the farmers’ agitation was at its peak and also held a meeting in Nangloi in Delhi for the purpose. “Jat society had opposed Malik’s move as it could have adversely affected the farmers’ agitation,” he said.

Samiti spokesman Dharampal Badala said Balhara had been appointed the national convener of the AIJASS for conducting further affairs of the samiti. “An ad hoc committee of 11 members has been set up for taking up the matter of the police cases pending in courts against several members of the community. We will discuss the issue with the khap panchayats, social organisations and political leaders,” he said.

A woman jat leader, Rajkala Hooda, termed Malik a traitor and said he had harmed the interests of the community.