New Delhi: Former Haryana chief minister B.S. Hooda will go on a hunger strike today at 10 am at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital, as an appeal to the protesting Jat community in Haryana to maintain law and order in the violence-hit state and call off the agitation.
“The agitation has taken such a turn not that it’s not going to benefit anyone. Some people have been killed and I offer my condolences, but the way the situation has escalated there has been severe loss to property as well,” Hooda told the media here yesterday.
He also appealed to all the agitators to fight against the ‘divisive forces’ trying to create a gulf in the society.
“In a move to ensure calm and harmony returns in Haryana, I will be sitting on a hunger strike at 10 am tomorrow at Jantar Mantar,” Hooda said.
Hooda had earlier blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state for protests by the Jat community demanding reservation in government jobs.
He said that the unrest in the state was due to the inciting statements made by the BJP leaders.
“During our government everyone was satisfied with the reservation. We never tinkered with the existing reservations, but at the same time we did not leave out any,” Hooda said.
Earlier, a delegation of Jat leaders from Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi, met Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday night, and said that they were waiting for the formation of a committee which would review the reservation demands of their community, which will decide their future course of action.
“We had four demands; compensation for those who have died, return of complain, the reservation should be implemented and we demand action on the officers who have ordered firing,” a Jat leader told the media after the meeting.
“They have told us that they would be forming a committee by tomorrow which would review the reservation demand,” he added.
When asked about their course of action, the Jat leaders said they await the committee formation in as assured by the government.
The Jats leaders appealed people of Haryana to maintain peace in the region, saying violence would not lead to solution in this regard.
“All the Khap Chowdhary’s are there with the people, so I would appeal to them that they must maintain peace,” he added.
Meanwhile, violence due to the Jat reservation stir spread to more areas yesterday in Haryana.
Four people were killed in Army firing at Jhajjar taking the death toll due to the agitation to seven. (ANI)