Jat stir: Efforts on to remove blockades, BJP committee summons Khattar

The BJP-appointed high-powered committee, headed by senior union minister Venkaiah Naidu, to examine the demand of Jats for quota in central jobs has called Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for deliberations on Tuesday to ascertain state’s views on the subject.

During the hour-long meeting, the committee, comprising union ministers — Mahesh Sharma, Sanjeev Baliyan and party leaders Satpal Malik and Avinash Rai Khanna — took stock of the situation and discussed as how to move forward in the matter. According to sources, the Committee has called Khattar and other state ministers for ascertaining the state government’s views on the subject.

Yielding to pressure from agitating Jats, the BJP had on Sunday night announced setting up of the committee under Naidu to examine the quota demand for the community in government jobs.

Meanwhile, violence continued unabated in the state with stone-pelting mobs attacking security personnel trying to clear a road blockade triggering a clash in which three civilians were killed raising the death toll to 19 in the nine-day old stir. Several blockades have been lifted up and efforts are underway to remove the remaining several blockades on roads and routes.

Haryana government has announced full compensation for damage caused to private properties as well as ex-gratia of 10 lakh rupees to the kin of those killed in the agitation for reservation.

The state government also decided to immediately assess the role of all officers and officials of both civil and police administration for any act of omission and commission during the agitation.