Sunday, February 12, 2017 marked the first ‘anniversary’ of the Jat protests, a caste-based agitation that has been the scourge of Haryana since the past year. And if you thought the issue had subsided, think again.
According to a report in The Tribune, the protests have gained traction again and National Highway 71-A between Rohtak and Panipat was reportedly in blocked-mode yesterday. The village of Jassia was the epicenter of Jat-anger this time around and traffic had to be diverted as the Jat Nyay Dharna gained momentum.
All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) leader Yashpal Malik said that they would “bring an earthquake in Haryana”. The protests last year began after the Jats demanded for an entry into the Other Backward Class (OBC) category.
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The round of protests on this occasion began in the state on January 29, and this is why they should be taken seriously by political analysts. Though the epicenter of the said ‘earthquake’ would be Haryana, effects could be felt in neighbouring UP where the Jats constitute roughly 8.6 percent of the voting populace. It’s a number that is not as high as say a Haryana or a Punjab, but it’s a high one nonetheless. Adding to that is the fact that they are a key voter-base in Western Uttar Pradesh which went to polls on February 11.
Reports have mentioned that the Jats are not a unified voter-base, so to speak, and a growing grouse has been building up with the ruling BJP. They also mentioned that it could lead to the RLD or the Samajwadi Party cashing in, or even BSP’s Mayawati coming in and lining up with the Dalits and Muslims as a steady voter-base.
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When the protests were on last year, Mayawati had voiced her support for the Jat demand for reservation while the Sangh Parivar seemed divided. AIJASS President Malik had accused the BJP of hatching a conspiracy against the Jats while the RSS’ Haryana chief was quoted by the media saying that he would have ordered a shooting of the protestors if he was CM.
The BJP government had announced the formation of a committee headed by Venkaiah Naidu to look into the Jat’s demands but there has been no reported progress in the matter. Jats say that no efforts has been made from the other side and insist that the ‘talks’ will only happen in Rohtak.
With the tussle showing no signs of an end, political parties may just cash in while this opportunity assumes the nature of a saga.
