Khap meet: Jat youths vow to push govt for cancelling FIRs

A khap meet organised to pay homage to those killed in the violence during the Jat agitation ended with the Jat youths deciding to pressure the government to withdraw all the FIRs registered against protesters. The meeting was held at Nandal Bhawan in Bohar village on Sunday.

Rohtak member of Parliament Deepender Singh Hooda and former Congress MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra attended the event for a brief period and left after attending a havan for the peace of the departed souls. However, photographs of only Jat members were displayed at the venue in contrast to the announcement that the event was not community-specific.

When pointed out, a member of the organising committee and chief of Nandal khap, Mahender Singh Nandal, said, “We displayed the picture of a non-Jat from Dighal village, but could not arrange photographs of others. The agitation has created a chasm among the communities and some non-Jat families did not want us to pay tributes to their sons.”

Confusion prevailed at the meet as Khap leaders did not arrange for microphones which left an audience of around 1,500 people longing for a clear message. Youths who had come from Rajasthan, UP and Delhi expressed their disappointment as the meeting failed to lay down the roadmap.

The youths decided they would meet at the same place on March 10 to discuss how to pressure the government to withdraw FIRs against their brethren. The youths also condemned sarpanches and panches who were raising funds for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and termed them sycophants. They said if any Jat had to donate money, he should contribute to the committee which was formed to provide relief to families which had lost their kin in the agitation. As there were speculations that the meeting could once again lead to protests, a large number of paramilitary personnel were deployed near the venue and across the city.

Meanwhile, Khap leaders, including Nandal and Jai Singh Ahlawat, said they had only gathered to pay tributes to the deceased and not to give youths a platform to protest. They, however, promised they would ensure that no one turned up for the meeting on March 10.

Sangwan warns of bigger stir if OBC quota not given

Bhiwani/Rohtak: All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti leader Hawa Singh Sangwan on Sunday said if the government didn’t give quota to Jats under the OBC category in central government jobs, they would launch a “bigger protest” against the government.

He said they would not accept reservation on the basis of economic status of a family. He said, “Jats want peace and if the government wants peace too then it should take steps to control those who are speaking against our caste and raising 35 caste vs one caste slogans. It should also stop its leaders from expressing dissenting opinions on Jat reservation.” He said government compensating those who lost their properties was a good gesture, however, it should show the same kindness to the families of those killed in the agitation.