Hectic parleys are on in the Capital and in Chandigarh to diffuse the crisis in five States after protests by members of Jat community demanding reservation turned violent. Various reports suggested that the situation could not be controlled despite the Army being sent to various parts of Haryana.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with his senior Cabinet colleagues and Chief Ministers of Punjab, Delhi and Haryana on the situation. Various political parties urged the Centre to take a proactive role and hold dialogues with the agitating community’s leaders.
Senior leader of the Opposition Congress and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda held a one-day hunger strike demanding peace in the State. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Centre and the State governments have to be blamed for the problems in Haryana.
The issue is set to disturb the Budget session of Parliament, which is beginning here on Tuesday. The Congress leadership is meeting on Monday to assess the situation and finalise its strategy for the session.
The Left parties also attacked the Centre for its inability to control violence. “Not heard anything so far from Union Home Minister on Haryana who came out roaring against JNU on the basis of unverified claims,” said CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.
“The fires raging in Haryana are only the latest in a series of ominous episodes witnessed in India since Modi government took office. This government seems to be making a habit of first fanning discord for petty political gains, and then going silent after it completely loses control over the situation,” he said.
BSP supremo Mayawati, while extending full support to the demand of reservation by the Jat community, alleged that the ruling BJP in Haryana was following in the footsteps of the previous Congress government, forcing the community to launch an agitation demanding their inclusion among other backward class.
Meanwhile, as Delhi reeled under an unprecedented water crisis following cut in its supply from Haryana due to Jat stir, leading to shutting of all schools on Monday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the situation as serious.