NEW DELHI: With the Jat stir bringing Haryana to a standstill, the BJP said it was ready to hold talks with the community to accept their demands. The ruling party brought forward its Jat leaders who have been asked to engage with the agitating organisations.
BJP chief Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with Jat leaders and party MPs to draw up a strategy to stop deterioration of the situation in Haryana. The BJP deputed Union Agriculture Minister Birender Singh, who belongs to Haryana, to do the talking.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Singh said, “I appeal to the people leading the agitation to hold talks with our leadership.... Youths who are at the forefront should also join talks. I appeal to the people of Haryana to maintain peace and harmony.” BJP’s other Jat leaders Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan, Haryana Cabinet Minister O P Dhankar and party General Secretary and state in-charge Anil Jain were also present.
Birender, a former Congressman, blamed Congress for the crisis, as it had earlier announced reservation for Jats, which was struck down by the Supreme Court. “Congress gave reservation without due diligence, due to political reasons, following which the Supreme Court quashed the decision,” the Minister said. He tried to allay apprehensions that his party was not in favour of reservations. The Centre and the party are exploring ways to see that Jats get reservation, the leaders said.