Don’t pay bills, says Malik
ROHTAK/KARNAL/HISAR With the protesting Jat community set to march towards Delhi today, All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) president Yashpal Malik on Wednesday urged the community to start a ‘non-cooperation movement’ by refusing to pay bills and bank loans.
‘DON’T PAY BILLS, BOYCOTT SHOPKEEPERS WHO DON’T SUPPORT US’
The Jat community also started a ‘non-cooperation movement’ on Wednesday, wherein they will refuse payment of electricity and water bills, and repayment of loans to government agencies.
Speaking at a dharna in Ramayan village of Hisar district, Malik said, “Today, we have decided to start an asahyog dharna (non-cooperation strike). Under this, we will not pay electricity bills and bank loans. Jats will also boycott those shopkeepers who fail to cooperate and support our demands.”
“It is good to find out the traders who don’t support us. We will know who are against us,” Malik said. Earlier, a similar call had invited stern criticism from traders’ bodies across Haryana who said this will deepen caste-divide.
Besides, a call to halt milk supply to Delhi on March 1, as a oneday symbolic protest, could not evoke a positive response among Malik’s supporters. Taking a u-turn, Malik said he had never announced the date for the symbolic protest and that he will make the announcement for it soon.
‘WILL CHOKE DELHI SOON’
The Jat leader, during the protest on Thursday, said that he will also announce the date when they will “choke” the national capital with their tractor-trolleys and bullock carts and “gherao” the Parliament.
“Kal hum keval tareek batane jaa rahen hain ki Holi ke baad 5 crore Jat Dilli hilaane aajaenge (Tomorrow we are only going to tell the date that after Holi 5 crore Jats will lay siege on Delhi and shake the national capital),” he said.
“We have not asked people to come on tractor-trolleys or bullock carts tomorrow (Thursday). That is only for the Parliament gherao after Holi. On Thursday, a gathering of over 50,000 people from Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh will take part in the protest. They will travel on their own vehicles,” he added.
NUMBER OF DHARNA SPOTS INCREASED
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the protesting Jats increased the number of dharnas spots in the state and vowed to take the number to 30 from 20 (present number) in the next few days.
The AIJASS has also started registration of tractors that will take part in the ‘Parliament gherao’ protest.
“More than 1,000 tractor-trolleys have been registered so far. We will take over all the national highways leading to Delhi from all sides and block the road wherever the government tries to stop us,” Malik said.