Jats in Haryana suspend their agitation over reservation

“I have talked to the members of the Jat community. They have agreed to suspend their protest in the state,” Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda told reporters here Tuesday evening.

“I have full sympathy with the victims of yesterday's (Monday) clashes between police and the agitators. The state government will give financial aid of Rs.10 lakh to the family members of the youth who was killed in the violence. Besides, a government job will be provided to one of his family members,” Hooda said.Hooda said that financial help will also be provided to all the injured who are recuperating in hospitals.

Members of the 'All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti' had gone on the rampage Monday, targeting government and private property. Curfew was imposed in many areas in Haryana's Hisar district Tuesday after the violence.

Y.P. Malik, president of the Sangharsh Samiti, told IANS: "For the time being we have decided to end our protest but we will continiuue fighting on the issue of reservation. We will decide future course of action in coming days."

Talking about the issue of reservation for Jats, Hooda said: “Members of the Jat community had submitted a memorandum regarding their demands to me in April. I had favourably forwarded their demands to the central government.”Hooda, however, said the widespread violence was the handiwork of some anti-social elements.

“Some anti-social elements damaged public property and the administration was forced to impose curfew in Hisar and services of paramilitary forces were sought and army was also alerted,” said Hooda.

“The district magistrate would decide about lifting the curfew,” he said. Following the violence, Hisar Superintendent of Police Subhash Yadav was booked and removed from his post late Monday.