In a bid to fill the chasm among communities due to violence during the Jat quota stir, Khap panchayats and Jat organisations are now making all out efforts to reach the families who suffered during the agitation.
The violence during the agitation had polarised the society in the state as all 35 non-Jat communities had come together to save themselves from the perpetrators who were having a free run in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Jind, Sonepat and Bhiwani districts.
Now, leaders of Khap panchayats and Jat organisations are convening meetings with the members of other communities to make amends.
Several Khap leaders are saying that they are ready to support the government to provide reservation on the basis of economic status of a family irrespective of the caste it belongs to.
“We are visiting villages and holding meetings with members of all 36 communities, including SCs, to ensure social harmony. We are getting good response and people of all communities are with us,” said Bhale Ram Narwal, national president of the Narwal Khap.
He accused the political leaders of creating a rift between Jats and non-Jats for their vested interests. “Some politicians tried to use agitation to meet their political motives, but we will not allow them to divide society on caste lines,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}He accused the political leaders of creating a rift between Jats and non-Jats for their vested interests. “Some politicians tried to use agitation to meet their political motives, but we will not allow them to divide society on caste lines,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}He claimed that most of those who resorted to violence during the agitation were not Jats.
Santosh Dahiya, national convener of women’s wing of Sarv Jatiya Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat and president of Akhil Bharatiya Mahila Shakti Manch, said she, along with several women from all 36 communities, was visiting villages in Rohtak and Jhajjar districts for harmony and peace.
“Though some leaders tried to divide people on caste lines, we will not allow them to succeed. We will visit every village in riot-hit areas to appeal for unity among all 36 communities,” she added.
Similarly, Akhil Bharatiya Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti is also planning to start a statewide campaign to expose the people who resorted to violence and arson during the quota agitation.
“We are collecting details from all violence-hit districts. We will come out with facts on how and why the peaceful Jat agitation turned violent,” said ABJASS president Yashpal Malik. “We will also expose politicians and others who were behind the violence. Our district heads are collecting details. We are in favour of peaceful agitation and never tried to disturb the peace and harmony,” he said.
Sources said that some Khap panchayats were planning to blacklist politicians against whom they get evidence that they instigated protesters to resort to violence, which had tarnished the image of Haryana as a whole and Jat community in particular.