Jat stir had its repercussions

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24

Jat quota violence in February 2016, that led to the death of 30 persons and torching of private and public property worth several thousand crores, had its repercussions on the Lok Sabha poll.

Political observers believed that polarisation of voters between Jats and non-Jats during the election was a direct implication of the quota stir violence.

Polarisation led to humiliating defeats for former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his son Deepender Hooda from Sonepat and Rohtak and for other Jat leaders like Shruti Choudhry.

The BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, had targeted Hooda for the violence and asked people to “teach a lesson to the perpetrators of violence”.

On the contrary, Hooda had accused Khattar and his government of inept handling of the Jat quota agitation and promised that “real perpetrators of violence would be brought to book once the Congress came to power”.

Hooda’s former political adviser Prof Virender had been facing sedition charge after an audio clipping went viral, in which he allegedly instigated someone for violence.

Rohtak, Jhajjar and Sonepat were among the worst affected areas during the quota stir violence. Results showed that non-Jats who were at the receiving end had voted against the Hoodas and other Congress leaders. Hooda could not be contacted for comment.

All-India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti president Yashpal Malik, who had led the agitation for reservation, denied quota violence having played any role in the election.

“People have voted for Narendra Modi in the name of nationalism. Quota stir violence or any other local issue has no role in the result. The split in the Chautala clan helped the BJP win comfortably,” he said. He said the samiti would continue its struggle.