New Delhi:
Fresh violence was reported once again in the district of Rohatak and Hisar on Monday. Violent protest continued even after the ‘assurance’ of reservation quota by BJP leaders to the Jat community. However, curfew was lifted from some of the areas and the state saw some life after days of violent protests. So far 19 people have died and scores injured in the violence that engulfed the state over the last few days.
Here are the top developments of the day on Jat agitation
HM Rajnath briefs Prime Minister on Law and Order
Home Minister Rajnath Singh today briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Haryana arising out of Jat agitation for reservation and violence.
During the half-an-hour meeting, Singh gave a detailed presentation about the agitation and subsequent violence as well as the steps taken to restore normalcy in Haryana, official sources said.
The Home Minister also told the Prime Minister about the meeting he had with a delegation of Jat leaders yesterday and the decisions taken in it, sources said.
Haryana govt announces compensation
Haryana government today announced full compensation for damage caused to private properties as well as ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the 19 killed in the Jat agitation for reservation.
The state government has decided to give full compensation to the loss of properties, both commercial and residential, in the Jat stir, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said here.
An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh will be given to the next of kin of the persons killed in the ongoing agitation and employment to a member of the family of the deceased. Also, no false cases would be registered against anyone, he said.
Life limping back to normaly in Haryana
Life in violence-torn Haryana was limping back to normal today with Jat protesters starting to lift blockades in various parts of the state after the BJP announced setting up of a committee under a Central minister to examine the quota demand for the community.
After remaining on the edge for several days, normalcy was returning to some cities like Kaithal and officials expect the situation to improve considerably in other affected areas today.
Authorities had lifted curfew from Kaithal and its nearby town Kalayat yesterday.
However, in Rohtak, the epicentre of pro-quota Jat agitation, curfew remained in force even as there was no report of any incident of violence and arson in the last 24 hours.
Indo-Pak bus services, rail routes take a hit
The Samjhauta Express and other buses running between India and Pakistan were cancelled today as the rail and land routes connecting the countries were hit by the ongoing Jat reservation stir.
Samjhauta Express, that was scheduled to arrive in India from Wagah railway station of Lahore, was cancelled today. The Pakistan railway authority was informed well in time about the disruption of rail traffic in India due to massive protests on the railway tracks and G T Road National Highway, an official said.
He added the Delhi-Attari special train, which was also scheduled today, has been cancelled.
Two bus services between Delhi and Lahore were also cancelled owing to the road block in Haryana, the official said.
SC asks people to maintain peace
The Supreme Court today refused to accord urgent hearing of a PIL seeking directions to restore law and order in Haryana in the wake of the Jat quota agitation, saying it had no reason to believe that the government was not taking due action.
“We have no reason to believe that the government is not taking action in the matter. We appeal to the people to maintain peace and not damage property. We can only say amity and brotherhood be there among all communities. Rest is for government to decide,” a bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice U U Lalit said.
Rajnath reviews Haryana situation with top officials
Rajnath reviews Haryana situation with top officials s violence continued unabated in Haryana, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today took stock of the prevailing situation in the state with top officials, including NSA Ajit Doval, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag besides others.
The Home Minister was given a detailed presentation by senior officials on the violence during the agitation and blockades put up by the Jats, who have been demanding quota, official sources said.
Singh told all concerned that all necessary steps must be taken to bring back peace and normalcy in Haryana and there should be no compromise in maintaining law and order.
The Home Minister was told that around 7,300 paramilitary personnel have been deployed, besides Army columns, to assist the state government to deal with the situation arising out of the violence, sources said.
Delhi continues to face serious water crisis
Delhi continued to be hit by serious water crisis as the city is yet to get water from Munak canal originating in Jat quota stir-hit Haryana, Water Minister Kapil Mishra said.
Water treatment plants at Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla were today restarted by the Delhi Jal Board after treating the high level of ammonia in raw water supply from the Yamuna.
“No water received from Haryana as yet. Team DJB has started Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla. Crisis still serious,” Mishra said in a tweet.
Mishra was present at the Wazirabad plant when DJB engineers succeeded in running it at 25 per cent capacity. It is expected to attain 50 per cent capacity later, a senior DJB official said.
With Inputs from PTI
