Chandigarh

With Jats in Haryana upping the ante renewing their old quota demand, the state government is facing an uphill task to carry on with its preparation works for the upcoming mega investor summit scheduled to be held two weeks later in Gurgaon.

The agitation, which has been flared up in the last two days, is posing a major challenge for the BJP government in Haryana to make the investors’ summit a big success.

Days before the Jats started their protest, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had been holding roadshows in various cities of the country including Mumbai and Chennai, seeking investments for his state.

The state government had in recent days been making efforts to make the forthcoming “Happening Haryana Global Investors Summit-2016” scheduled for March 7-9 in Gurgaon, a grand success.

However, the Jat quota stir came at a wrong time for the Khattar government which was going full steam to prepare for the first investors’ summit and “Pravasi Haryana Divas” (on March 9) to woo domestic and international industrial investors.

Chief Minister Khattar along with Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu and senior officials had already undertaken two foreign trips — the first to the US and Canada in August last year and the second one recently to Japan and China — to attract investors.

Besides, the state government has also held roadshows in five metros in the country.

Notably, the current Jat agitation is the second major untoward event which has put the state government in a tight spot.

The BJP government came to power in Haryana in October 2014.

Immediately after taking oath as the Chief Minister, Khattar had to face the ‘godman’ Rampal issue.

Opposition Congress had then even taken a dig at the government over its alleged inept handling of the Rampal issue, claiming that CM Khattar had failed to handle it as he was a person with no experience in administration and public life.

In November 2014, there had been violent clashes at the Satlok ashram of the self-styled godman in Haryana and thousands of Rampal’s followers had to be evacuated from his Ashram, before police finally arrested him. The incident had also caused a few casualties and left hundreds injured.

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda while commenting on present Jat agitation, said it was not the right time to indulge in political speak over the handling of the Jat issue by the present government, “yet it is true that the situation has been allowed to come to such a pass because the BJP leaders had made tall promises to the Jat community before coming to power”.

“Even when they came to power, various leaders of the BJP have been speaking in different tones, which complicated things. At the same time, I want to make it clear that Congress strongly condemns any act of violence and we appeal to people to maintain peace and harmony,” he said.

“There may be an adverse impact on new investments in Haryana in the wake of ongoing Jat stir,” said Sher Singh Sangwan, Professor at Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Chandigarh.

“The Jat agitation will also impact the image of the state if it prolongs,’ he further said while adding, “the government should act fast to end the stir”.

Industry experts said new investors would not like to make fresh investment in the state which is facing lawlessness and violent protest in the wake of Jat stir.

This is the first investors summit organised by the Khattar government in the state.

Khattar government had even launched a new industrial policy to attract fresh investments in the state.

Haryana is seeking investments in several fields including agro-based industry, electronics, footwear accessory, renewable energy, solar parks, auto, auto parts, defence, aerospace, pharma, textile etc.

Khattar has even held roadshows in states such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai to invite investors to make investments in the state.

Jat violence spreads in Haryana, 4 more killed, toll 5

Flag marches were conducted by Army in various districts including Jind, Rohtak and Bhiwani districts.

Around 25 Haryana Roadways buses were either burnt or their window panes damaged in arson and violence at Jind, Pundri, Julana and Gohana. Besides a number of private vehicles, including 2-wheelers, four wheelers and a truck were damaged in the state.

An official vehicle of the District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) of Jhajjar was also set on fire at Jhajjar. The four employees in the vehicle, including the local DPRO, managed to escape to safety before the vehicle was set afire, an official spokesman said in Chandigarh.

In late evening incidents, a railway station at Pillukhera, a sub Tehsil office at Bhuna and a cooperative bank building at village Gorakhpur was set ablaze.

Protesters ransacked and set on fire a Toll Plaza near Panipat on the Panipat-Rohtak Highway this evening, police said.

Jats have been demanding quota in jobs and educational institutions under OBC category. The agitators today demanded a “written assurance from the government”, saying they “cannot be befooled with hollow promises every time”.

However, a prominent Jat leader Yashpal Malik today said the Jat stir will not be called off till the state government promulgates an ordinance with regard to giving quota to Jats under OBC category.

Notably, Jats are miffed at the opposition of Kurukshetra MP Saini to Jat reservation. He had objected to giving reservation to Jats and had even threatened to resign if the OBC quota is affected.

Road and Railway traffic continued to be affected in the state due to blockades resulting in disruption of services from Delhi and beyond to Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh through various National Highways, including NH 44 (Delhi Ambala) and NH 10 (Delhi-Hissar- Fazilka). Several trains were cancelled by Railway authorities.

Police said some persons had pelted stones at the Jhajjar residence of Haryana Minister O P Dhankar, but no one was injured in the incident.

Normal life remained disrupted in large parts of the state with shops and commercial establishments besides schools remaining closed, mobile internet services being suspended in many districts, and transportation of essential commodities, including LPG, milk and vegetables, also being adversely affected.

Protesters have also blocked NH-44 near Nangal village in Sonipat district and near Panipat affecting movement of traffic, which connects Punjab, HP, Chandigarh and J&K.

Despite fresh incidents of violence being reported, State Police chief Yashpal Singhal claimed that the situation had improved since yesterday.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC banning assembly of five or more persons and taking out of processions have been clamped in more districts including Panipat, Hissar, Jhajjar, Gurgaon, Jind and Kaithal.

Army personnel could not enter Rohtak through road as protesters had put up blockades on Delhi, Hissar, Rohtak, and Fazilka highways, forcing the authorities to airdrop them from helicopters, an official said.

Jat protest: Section 144 imposed in Gurgaon for two days
Gurgaon

As violence spread to more areas in Haryana today due to pro-reservation protest by the Jat community, the administration clamped prohibitory orders in Gurgaon for two days.

Hundreds of Jat community members blocked Garhi Harsaru railway line, NH-8, Atul Kataria chowk, Iffco Chowk, and other city roads disturbing traffic through out the day.

“We have imposed section-144 for two days. Schools will open from Monday which was earlier directed to be closed,” Gurgaon District Magistrate T L Satyaprakash said.

The DM said they have been communicating with Jat leaders and headmen of Sukhrauli, Kadipur, Baktawarpur, Kasan ki Dahni and other villages to identify anti-social elements trying to provoke people to disturb harmony.

Gurgaon police spokesperson Hawa Singh said over 500 police personnel, with 12 ACP rank officials, have been deployed to keep a tab on Delhi- Gurgaon border area, and the city’s major intersections such as NH-8, toll plaza.

“They protested at places like Iffco Chowk, Garhi Harsaru railway line, Dalatabad, Sarai railway line, Bhagat Singh Chowk, Islampur chowk, Patli Railway station and other junctions,” Hawa Singh said.

PTI