Govt invites protesting Jat leaders for talks

ROHTAK: The state government has invited Jat leaders for talks in Chandigarh on June 15 in a bid to convince them to end their ongoing stir for reservation and six

ROHTAK: The state government has invited Jat leaders for talks in Chandigarh on June 15 in a bid to convince them to end their ongoing stir for reservation and six other demands.

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Rohtak range commissioner Chander Prakash said the government was keen on solving the issue via discussion. However, he said, it was not confirmed yet who would take part in the discussion from the government’s side.

The earlier talks between Jat leaders and the administration remained inconclusive as the agitators pressed that only government and not administration can agree to their demands. “Prashasan nahin kewal shasan se baat karenge (Not administration, we’ll talk only with the government),” said Sombir Jassia, a member of the organising committee holding dharna in Rohtak.

About taking part in talks with the government in Chandigarh, Sombir said, “If All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) leaders from across the country agree to meet government in Chandigarh, we’ll also go. But if Khaps take part in that meeting then we’ll boycott it.”

The community members maintained that they will remain intact with their seven demands listed to the government through several memorandums. “No talks will be successful until the government agrees to our seven demands,” Joginder Pehelewan, another organiser said.

The dharnas in the region entered ninth day on Monday as Jats kept on collecting at the protest sites. In the wake of quota case’s date in Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday, three more companies of paramilitary forces were rushed to Rohtak Sunday night to prevent any eventualities, Rohtak SP Shashank Anand said.

Chander Prakash, with whom Jat leaders had held a meeting on Sunday, said he had yet not received any reply from them on whether they were going to lift their dharnas.