AIJASS makes preparations for ‘Balidan Divas’ on Feb 19
KARNAL: The All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) has decided to intensify the agitation to build pressure on the government to accept its demands.
Sources said the move follows chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s “unexpected” remark that cases of heinous crime (Section 307 and 302 of IPC) registered against protesters during last year’s violence cannot be withdrawn.
The AIJASS has decided to hold an internal meeting to decide its strategy for future course of action at Jassia in Rohtak district.
AIJASS national president Yashpal Malik has made it clear that no further talks will be held with the government and next decision will be taken in a meeting of the AIJASS core committee in Rohtak on February 17.
Sources said AIJASS members in Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Panipat districts are working hard to mobilise crowds at the dharna spots on February 19.
“The Balidan Divas will be observed in a big way and thousands of people will participate in the protest on that day,” AIJASS leader Balwan Kotra told HT.
“Our future course of action will be decided in the meeting at Jassia and we will make an announcement regarding this on Balidan Divas on February 19,” said Badev Rathee, AIJASS convener for Kurukshetra district.
AIJASS members are also slamming Jat leaders of the ruling BJP for allegedly creating hurdles in their agitation. “Though the chief minister seems positive about the demands, finance minister Capt Abhimanyu and agriculture minister OP Dhankar do not want that the issue to get resolved as they might be eying the top post,” said an AIJASS leader who did not want to be named.
Meanwhile, district administrations are making preparations to deal with the situation.
Karnal deputy commissioner (DC) Mandeep Brar held a meeting with various officials in the district and asked them to keep a close vigil on the protesters.
MALIK WARNS OF MASSIVE CROWDS
ROHTAK: AIAJSS leader Yashpal Malik on Thursday accused the state government of adopting double standards on the issue of Jat agitation.
“The government has constituted a committee to hold dialogue with protesters but at the same time it is maintaining that cases against Jat youths under Sections 302 and 307 of the IPC will not be withdrawn,” he said while addressing the ongoing dharna at Jassia village in the district that entered 19th day on Thursday.
The Jat leader said he rejected the offer of a dialogue with the CM in Gurgaon due to such attitude of the government.
“We will hold talks with the government only when it will make its stand clear on withdrawal of cases and invite us for talks without any pre-conditions,” he said.
Malik claimed around 25 lakh people with take part in protests across Haryana on February 19, when the Jat community will observe ‘Balidaan Divas’.
He said the government was not able to control its ministers, who were displaying contradictory stands on the demands of the Jat community. “The CM must ensure he is able to control his ministers. If they don’t stop talking ill about the Jat community, we will be forced to take some tough decisions,” he added.
While Malik made it clear that they will refrain from disrupting rail and road traffic, he said the people of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh will not sit quiet and “contribute in putting pressure on the government”.
Meanwhile, the police and paramilitary forced conducted flag marches in the district to instil a sense of safety among the residents.
The police said they had tightened security at all the entrances of the city and nakas.