Chandigarh: The first session of the new Haryana assembly has so far seen the ‘Jat factor’ dominate discourse as several MLAs have demanded the withdrawal of criminal cases filed against members of the community during the February 2016 protest for reservations.
Over 2,100 cases were registered against Jat agitators, as violence during the protest claimed 31 lives and caused damage worth crores to public and private property.
On Wednesday, the demand to withdraw these cases was raised multiple times, forcing Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to announce that his government will ensure “equal treatment” to everyone in the state.
In last month’s assembly elections, Khattar’s BJP could win just 40 seats out of 90, down seven from its number in the last assembly. Political analysts say Jats voted for the Congress and the Jannayak Janata Party, a breakaway faction of the Indian National Lok Dal whose leader Dushyant Chautala later allied with the BJP and became deputy CM.
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Show big heart, forgive them
Congress MLA Raghuvir Kadian said Tuesday in the assembly that Jats had suffered enough over the years, and it was time to show a “big heart” and forgive them. He added that this would be a gesture of “humanity and grace”.
Kadian represents Beri constituency in Jhajjar district, one of the worst-hit districts during the 2016 protest.
Kadian’s demand was seconded and forcefully put forth again Wednesday by the sole INLD MLA, Abhay Chautala. He said the Jat families whose members were booked during the agitation had gone through a lot of suffering, and the time had come to create a better atmosphere in the state.
CM Khattar, however, pointed out that the matter was pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and it would not be appropriate for legislators to discuss the issue in the assembly. He added that the state government was also committed to working towards all communities equally in the state.
What Khattar govt has done since 2016
In its first term, Khattar’s BJP government had decided to withdraw the cases, but the high court stayed the move.
Almost 2,100 FIRs were lodged against hundreds of protesters for murder, attempt to murder, rioting, blocking roads, and attacking government servants, among others. The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry had pegged the loss of property during the stir at Rs 34,000 crore.
Khattar’s government gave jobs to the kin of the people killed during the agitation, a majority of whom were alleged rioters. The families of those killed were also granted Rs 10 lakh each as compensation, while another 63 injured rioters/members of the public were also given financial relief.
In June 2016, the government withdrew 137 cases, in which 1,158 were accused, from the courts in the first lot. In December 2017, the government had announced withdrawal of 15 cases, in which 47 were accused. Then, last week, 70 cases were withdrawn, in which 822 people stood accused.
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