Hard negotiations: How the Jat agitation was put off

Delhi could not afford this agitation at least at this time when Parliament is in session. The Haryana government decided to rope in Union Steel Minister Birendra Singh, a popular Jat face.

Life would have been thrown completely out of gear had the Jat agitators decided to go ahead with their march to New Delhi. There was a momentum growing and the agitation threatened to be a repeat of 1988 when lakhs of Jats had gathered at the India Gate to press for their demands.

However, last minute negotiations ensured that the agitation was put off. However, it is temporary as the All India Jat Akarshan Sangharsh Samithi has said that it would decide on the next course of action on March 26. The organisation has been demanding reservation for the agrarian community in jobs and education.

The negotiations with the organisation became important. Delhi could not afford this agitation at least at this time when Parliament is in session. The Haryana government decided to rope in Union Steel Minister Birendra Singh, a popular Jat face. P P Choudhary, the minister of state for law too was roped in to negotiate with the organisation.

On Sunday there was a marathon meeting between the central ministers, the Haryana government and the AIJASS. The organisation raised several issues that included the manner in which the probe was being conducted into last year's agitation. They were assured that the probe would be fair and also compensation would be given to those who died and were injured during the agitation. They were also assured that the issue of reservation will be looked into afresh by the National Commission for Backward Classes.

OneIndia News