Jat power to tilt vote balance in UP elections
Image compulsions, powerful khap reluctance and internal divisions will affect the outcome of the peaceful Jat Agitation 2.0. Jat politics is likely to get unified, being scheduled to spread across other states. The agitation is also changing caste equations, with BSP boss Mayawati supporting the hunger strike in Rohtak, thus creating a new Dalit-Jat alliance. This will help her chances in the UP poll race, since Jat leaders have offered her help.
A contradictory complication has risen with dharnas in around 12 villages in Bhiwani getting support from local Brahmins, Jangras and Sens. The powerful President of the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS),
Yashpal Malik, told The Sunday Standard, “The agitation is peaceful and will continue non-stop till our demands are met. It will spread to all Jat-dominated states. From Western UP, it will expand to all Assembly segments from June 10. It will start in Uttarakhand on June 11, and in Punjab and Rajasthan from June 12. Our plan is for the dharnas to continue till June 30. After that will we decide our further course of action.”
He claims support of around 30 khaps. However, the Sarva Jatiya Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat, the umbrella body of khaps, is not in favour. Tulsi Grewal, chief of the most powerful Meham khap, said at the June 5 Mahapanchayat conclave, it was decided that all khaps would wait for the outcome of the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision on June 13, on lifting the stay. The next decision will happen at the next Mahapanchayat to be held this week.
“Yashpal Malik is agitating for political gain,” said Grewal.
A section of protestors allege that supporters of the BJP’s non-Jat Kurukshetra MP, Rajkumar Saini, could inflame Jats by desecrating statues of prominent personalities. He was accused of inflaming sentiment during the last agitation.
Apart from the deployment of 55 companies of paramilitary forces across sensitive districts including Rohtak, Bhiwani, Sonepat, Panipat, Jind, Hisar and Jhajjar, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Muhammad Akil said the efforts were being made to dissuade people from participating in the dharnas and withdraw the agitation. At present dharnas are on in 12 districts. The number goes down to seven at night.
Deputy commissioners and superintendents of police have been asked to hold joint patrols. Sub-Divisional Magistrates, DSPs and Block Development and Panchayat Officers have been instructed to stay in touch with sarpanchs and community leaders.