House to discuss Jat agitation today
ADJOURNMENT MOTION Speaker admits motion moved by MLAs of INLD, Congress and an Independent for discussion on demands of Jat protesters after a meeting in his chamber
CHANDIGARH : TheHaryanaVidhan Sabha will have a discussion on the Jat reservation stir on Wednesday.
Speaker Kanwar Pal admitted the adjournment motion of MLAs of the opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Congress, and an Independent member for a discussion on demands of Jat protesters after a meeting with leaders of all parties in his chamber, fixing it for Wednesday.
INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala, Congress MLA Raghuvir Singh Kadian and Independent member Jai Prakash had given the adjournment motion notice. As soon as the Question Hour got over, Chautala, who is also leader of opposition, was the first to take up the adjournment motion, saying that thousands of people were holding protests at 18 places to press for their demands. The protesters are seeking reservation in jobs and educational institutions, withdrawal of cases and release of those arrested, among other things.
The INLD leader accused the BJP government of forcing them to sit on dharnas by first agreeing to accept their demands during last year’s quota stir and then not fulfilling them. “Is the government serious? What has it done till now? The state government is trying to divide the people. It is a mat- ter of concern,” he said.
When the speaker tried to respond, Chautala carried on, prompting the former to remark that the INLD leader probably wanted to deliver his entire speech.
Parliamentary affairs minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that the violence during last year’s quota stir had brought infamy to Haryana. “Congress and INLD leaders are competing with each other to be seen at the ongoing protests,” he added, triggering loud denials by the opposition members.
Kanwar Pal then told the members that they needed to amend the adjournment motion notice, as the matter was in the court.
When Congress MLA Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the issue of law and order was not sub judice, Gian Chand Gupta of the BJP said the protesters’ main demand pertaining to reservation was in the court.
Hooda said he was talking about the law and order, as development had come to a standstill, and ministers and officials were unable to enter the villages.
While the parliamentary affairs minister rebutted the claim, the speaker adjourned the proceedings for 30 minutes, asking the members to come to his chamber to discuss the issue. When the members reassembled, the speaker announced the decision.