Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to ensure law and order in the state, a day before the 72-hour deadline set by Jats for resuming their quota agitation ends.
Modi reportedly told Khattar there should not be any ‘lapse’ in ensuring that daily life and emergency services were not affected. The PM also held discussions with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on this.
Singh later assured Khattar that adequate central forces will be deployed to tackle any crisis since there is apprehension the agitation could become more violent this time.
Khattar was also asked to secure Munak Canal, which is the main source of water to Delhi.
The Jat Quota Bill that was scheduled to be tabled in Haryana assembly on Friday but it has been put on hold. Sources revealed that there is still no consensus on modalities of the bill in Haryana government.
The decision to defer the Jat quota bill comes within a week of RSS saying affluent sections of society should desist from seeking reservation benefits.
Meanwhile, security forces have been deployed in various parts of Haryana and section 144 imposed in Rohtak and Hisar. It is learnt that Jat leaders will have a meeting on Friday at Rohtak to decide further course of action. The protestors have given a call to close all schools and colleges in Haryana from that day onwards.
Paramilitary forces and police were out in sensitive districts and were carrying out flag marches. More than 30 people lost their lives in the in the Jat quota agitation which rocked the state last month. Losses incurred were pegged by Assocam at over Rs 20,000 crore.
The Centre has sent 80 companies (about 800 personnel) of paramilitary forces to the state for deployment in sensitive areas like Rohtak and Jhajjar districts which were the worst-affected during the first phase of the agitation.
The security forces personnel also conducted flag marches to instill confidence among the public in view of the large-scale arson and violence witnessed last month.
"We have already got the paramilitary. The police are on the alert and we are making all arrangements (to maintain law and order)," IGP, Rohtak Range, Sanjay Kumar said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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