On 13th day of their fresh pro-quota stir, some Jat leaders, accompanied by Khap representatives, held talks with Haryana government today and demanded withdrawal of "false cases" registered against youths in connection with the February stir and adequate compensation for the relatives of those who had died.
Among the participants in Panchkula talks were Sube Singh Samain, Sarv Khap Jat Panchayat spokesperson, its senior leader Nafe Singh Nain, Tek Chand Kandela of the Kandela Khap and Jat leader Hawa Singh Sangwan.
State Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's political advisor Jagdish Chopra, talked to them from the government side.
The main demand raised in the meeting was release of "innocent youths" arrested during February stir and adequate compensation and job to next of kin of those who lost their lives in the recent stir.
Dhankar told the leaders the government is fighting against the high court stay on reservation granted by it and assured their other demands would be considered in a "sympathetic manner".
All India Jat Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti (AIJASS), which is spearheading the stir, has been invited for talks with state government representatives in Delhi tomorrow.
"We are meeting them in Delhi tomorrow," AIJASS president Yashpal Malik said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said this is a "social issue and it should not be politicised".
Khattar, who was in Rohtak today, said as the reservation issue is under the consideration of the court, all would have to unitedly plea to make it reach the desired conclusion.
However, it is the responsibility of the government to get it resolved, he added.
The state today remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported, officials said here.
During the fresh round of agitation, the protesters have
been staging dharnas at various places in the state amid elaborate security arrangements.
In view of the fresh Jat stir, paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, while the state police is maintaining a strict vigil.
Haryana police is also keeping a vigil near the statues of various state icons in sensitive districts to thwart any act of vandalism.
As many as 30 people were killed and property worth crores of rupees was damaged at many places in Haryana during last year's Jat stir which had turned violent. Rohtak and some of its neighbouring districts, including Sonipat and Jhajjar, were the worst hit by the violence last year.
