As fresh pro-quota agitation by Jats continued for the 12th consecutive day today, Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu today cautioned the people, saying "it is a political conspiracy by some vested interests".
The Minister said the present BJP dispension in the state had got a law enacted for reservation and then recommended it be incorporated in 9th schedule of the Constitution.
"But some people are trying to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of the state by misleading the youth," an official release quoted him as saying.
He urged the youth not to get mislead and suggested the members of all communities to act wisely.
Abhimanyu, whose house in Rohtak was burnt down by miscreants during Jat quota stir in February, said the current protests in the state were not being made to get benefit of reservation "but it is a political conspiracy by some vested interests."
He said that some people see themselves being trapped in the investigation into incidents of arson during agitation and they fear that they would soon be behind bars.
"Therefore, such people were again trying to create disturbance by misleading the youth," he said.
Abhimanyu also hit out at Congress and INLD, alleging that both these parties were never serious about the reservation issue when they were in power in the state.
The current phase of Jat stir is being spearheaded by All-India Jat Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti, Its Rohtak unit president Ashok Balhara today claimed that the state government had invited some Khaps for talks in Panchkula tomorrow.
He rued that the Samiti's national president had not been invited and demanded that he should be involved towards any solution to the imbroglio.
As the Jat stir continued, INLD also lend its support, with party's senior leader Abhay Chautala yesterday addressing their gatherings at many places.
The state today remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported, officials said here.
Chautala has so far maintained that his party INLD favours continuation of reservation given to Jats and five other communities.
"We will raise the issue in the next session of the Assembly," he had said.
After the Jat stir turned violent in February claiming 30 lives, the BJP government had brought in laws to provide reservation to them and five other communities under a newly-carved Backward Classes (C) category.
However, the High Court stayed it, acting on a public interest litigation, after which some Jat groups announced the fresh stir.
Meanwhile, Malik today alleged that some Jat youths have
been falsely implicated in cases including murder, attempt to murder and other serious charges, in last year's violence.
He also said that tomorrow AIJASS has called a meeting in Rohtak where people from various dharna sites will sit and chalk out a programme for observing 'Balidan Divas'.
Hitting out at the BJP government in the state, Malik alleged "its officers are preparing report which says that Jats are bringing weapons in tractor trolleys to the dharna venues and there is possibility of violence. They want to defame us, everyone knows that we have been holding dharnas in a peaceful manner for past 19 days. Do they have any proof in making such allegations?"
The state government had last week formed a five-member committee, headed by Chief Secretary D S Dhesi, to hold talks with the agitating Jats.
Recently, a meeting between representatives of a government-appointed committee and leaders of the Jat agitation remained inconclusive.
During the past few days, the number of protesters including large number of women has increased at various dharna sites.
Even though the sit-ins have remained peaceful so far, but the Jat leaders have threatened to intensify the stir after February 19 if their demands are not met immediately.
Besides seeking quota in education and government jobs under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) category, the demands of the Jats include the release of those jailed during last year's agitation, withdrawal of cases slapped during the protest and government jobs for the kin of those killed and injured while taking part in the stir.
There is also a demand for action against BJP MP from Kurukshetra Raj Kumar Saini for his alleged anti-Jat rants.
The main opposition party in Haryana, the INLD, has openly come out in support of the agitating Jats this time and asked the government to meet their demands.
Senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala has maintained that his party will raise the Jat stir issue in the forthcoming budget session of the Haryana Assembly here.
Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that the government should implement the promises it made to the Jats earlier.
During the fresh round of the agitation, the protesters have been staging dharnas at various places in the state amid elaborate security arrangements.
Security has been further strengthened in sensitive Rohtak district, officials said.
Last year, arsonists had also set fire to the Rohtak residence of Haryana's Finance Minister Abhimanyu.
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.
