Haryana ministers blame INLD for Jat violence

CHANDIGARH - The Haryana government Thursday accused the state’s main opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) of instigating violence during the agitation by the Jat community for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.

At least nine ministers of the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government issued a statement in which they not only blamed the INLD for instigating violence but also named leaders of the INLD and its youth wing for leading people who indulged in violence in the state Monday and Tuesday.

“Incidents of violence, arson, destruction of public and private property and disruption of citizen services over last three days have caused deep anguish and consternation among all right thinking people of Haryana. The state’s economy has suffered insurmountable loss of business and property besides causing great inconvenience to the ‘aam aadmi’,” the statement said.

“INLD president Om Prakash Chautala and his party are systematically trying to divide the social fabric of Haryana on caste and communal lines,” it said.

The ministers named several INLD leaders and their supporters who led agitators in Hisar, Sirsa, Kurukshetra and Bhiwani districts to indulge in violence.

The statement said: “We appeal to the people of Haryana to see through this petty divisive game of the INLD. We also appeal to all concerned that the Commonwealth Games are being held shortly and are a matter of great honour and pride for the entire country, more so for Haryana on account of our proximity as also part of the venues being situated in Haryana.”

“Any continued destruction, arson and violence will put a question mark over the dreams of sportspersons and aspirations of millions of Indians and Haryanvis who expect stupendous performances in Commonwealth Games depicting universal brotherhood.”

The ministers claimed that leaders of ‘Jat Reservation Samiti’ had immediately suspended their agitation and have repeatedly assured the government and people that their projection of demands is entirely peaceful as also that they shun violence or destruction of property in any form.

They said that anyone indulging in violence would be brought to book and dealt with sternly in accordance with law of land.