CHANDIGARH: With the Jat agitation showing no signs of let up, the
BJP government in Haryana today said it has "accepted" the demands of
the community which is seeking quota under OBC category.
Appealing to protesters to end their stir, Chief Minister Manohar Lal
Khattar in a statement here this afternoon asked agitators to "return
to their homes as the Government has accepted their demands", but did
not elaborate.
After an all-party meeting here yesterday, the Chief Minister had said "a way will be worked out to give reservation to Jats."
Jats have been demanding quota in jobs and educational institutions under OBC category.
The agitators today demanded a "written assurance from the
government", saying they "cannot be befooled with hollow promises every
time".
As the Jat protest turned violent leading to the death of one person
yesterday and spread to various parts of the state, Khattar today said
nothing can be gained by damaging public property.
"No one will be benefited by damaging public property. Therefore,
those agitating and the youth should maintain peace in the state," he
said.
He also urged people not to be swayed by rumours.
The Haryana CM also said the state government does not agree with the
reported statements of BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini who had opposed any quota
to Jats.
"No one should make such a statement which adversely affects the feeling of brotherhood," Khattar said.
Notably, Jats are miffed at the opposition of Kurukshetra MP Saini to
Jat reservation. He had objected to giving reservation to Jats and had
even threatened to resign if the OBC quota is affected.
Army personnel could not enter Rohtak through road as protesters had
put up blockades on Delhi, Hissar, Rohtak, and Fazilka highways, forcing
the authorities to airdrop them from helicopters, an official said.
In other incidents of arson and violence, vehicles were set on fire
at Safidon (Jind) and a government office building set ablaze in Beri in
Rohtak district.
A private college was vandalized in Bhiwani and the private security
guard beaten up, police said, adding that an Ayurvedic dispensary was
also set on fire.
A government vehicle was set on fire in Jhajjar district, a police
Station in Uchana (Jind) vandalized by a mob, a motor cycle and two
buses set ablaze in Kalayat (Kaithal) in Gohana (Jind) respectively.
A convoy of army, moving towards Rohtak from Hissar, was stranded
near Madankheri subdivision late last night for an hour as protesting
Jats had "dug up" a stretch of road as part of their pro-quota
agitation. Army personnel then repaired the road and moved on towards
their destination.
Normal life was crippled in Rohtak, the epicentre of the ongoing
agitation, and Bhiwani in the wake of violence which broke out yesterday
during the stir, and many other parts of the state with rail and road
traffic hit, and shops and commercial establishment and schools
remaining closed.
Sporadic incidents of violence and arson were reported at several places overnight despite authorities imposing curfew.
Haryana government had yesterday called the Army in nine districts
while curfew was imposed in two districts along with shoot-at-sight
orders after one person died and several others were injured during the
Jat stir which turned violent with mobs resorting to widespread arson.
The Centre has also rushed 3,300 personnel of paramilitary forces to control the rampaging mob.
Agitating Jats squatted on the rail tracks in Gurgaon district today, affecting movement of trains.
A Jat protester in Gurgaon said community members want a "written
assurance from the government this time. We cannot be befooled with
hollow promises every time".
He said Jats did not believe in violence and it was "anti-social"
elements who were indulging in such acts to defame the community and to
derail their agitation.
Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki had to cancel his function in Gurgaon
today, where he was to address a group of women, with an official saying
the decision was taken in view of the situation prevailing in the
state.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar earlier in the day made an appeal to the people to maintain peace and harmony.
"I appeal to all my fellow Haryanvis to maintain law & order in
the State, and ensure that harmony is maintained in society," he
tweeted.
Khattar had recently held talks with Jat and Khap leaders here, but
these failed to bear fruit as the protesters remained adamant on their
main demand of OBC quota in government jobs and rejected his
announcement of enhancement of the quota of reservation for Economically
Backward Classes in the state from 10 to 20 per cent.
As a row erupted over his reported comments that
Muslims can live in the country but will have to give up eating beef,
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said his words have
been distorted but he was ready to express regret if he has hurt the
sentiments of people.
The reported remarks on beef
triggered an outrage with the Congress calling it a sad day for Indian
democracy and slamming him for his “unconstitutional” remarks.
However, the BJP leader said his words have been twisted.
“My words have been distorted. I never made such a statement. But if
the sentiments of anyone have been hurt with my words, I am ready to
express my regret,” Mr. Khattar said.
The Chief Minister’s Advisor Jawahar Yadav said that Mr. Khattar never made such a statement.
“The Chief Minister has himself denied that he made such a statement.
He did not say what has been published by a newspaper. The CM has said
cow is a subject of faith for crores of people in the country. Khattar
had given an example of his recent visit to Mewat where Gau Shalas are
being run by Muslims and where some people expressed views that Muslims
should avoid eating beef,” he said.
In an interview
published by a newspaper, the Haryana Chief Minister had said “Muslims
can continue to live in this country, but they will have to give up
eating beef” because “cow is an article of faith here”.
Reactions
Coming
close on the heels of controversial statements made by a few BJP
leaders over the lynching of a Muslim by villagers in Dadri over rumours
that he had eaten and stored beef, Mr. Khattar’s reported comments
invited a backlash from the opposition parties.
“Sad
day for India’s democracy! CM Khattarji will now decide qualifications
for Indian citizenship. Is this new model of governance Modiji?”
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked, taking a dig at Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav
attacked BJP, saying its leaders keep taunting Muslims and ask them to
go to Pakistan but what will they do with people in northeast where beef
is eaten?
“They will have to understand that India is not Europe or China. It is a diverse country,” he said.
Another
Congress leader Rashid Alvi said Mr. Khattar’s comments were
unconstitutional and he had no right to continue as the chief minister.
BJP distances itself
BJP dissociated itself from the views of Mr. Khattar and said this was not the party’s stand.
“The
views expressed by Khattar are not that of the party. I will talk to
him and will advise him. It is wrong to say like that,” Parliamentary
Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told PTI, adding that it is not correct to link anyone’s eating habits to religion.
“This
is not the BJP’s position. It is not correct to link eating habits to
religion. People have to keep in mind the sentiments of others and
eating is a personal choice of people,” he said.
Mr.
Naidu said no civilized person will support the killing of anyone for
his eating habits and termed the Dadri incident as “highly condemnable”.
The Prime Minister and BJP chief Amit Shah have also expressed their
disapproval of the incident.
He, however, said the
Dadri incident was a law and order issue concerning Uttar Pradesh and
its chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party government
should be questioned on it, instead of putting the blame on the BJP-led
central government.
The Parliamentary Affairs
Minister also denied that intolerance was increasing in the country and
said that such incidents have been taking place in the past too.
“There
is a systematic and malicious campaign against the BJP-led government
to divert its focus from development and to derail Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s efforts of making India develop and progress further,”
he said.
Mr. Naidu also termed the protest by writers
who returned their awards as “selective” and questioned how many of
them had resigned when Emergency was imposed in the country or when the
1984 anti-Sikh riots took place in the aftermath of the assassination of
the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sikhs were massacred in
Delhi.
NEW DELHI: Haryana has a new Chief Minister, the BJP’s
Manohar Lal Khattar. Ten days ago, before it became evident that the BJP
had swept the October 15 Haryana polls, during the election campaign
Khattar had made a comment blaming women for India’s rising number of
rapes.
“If a girl is dressed decently, a boy will not look at her in the wrong
way," Khattar had said. Responding to a question on whether young people
should have freedom of choice, the BJP politician said, “If you want
freedom, why don't they just roam around naked? Freedom has to be
limited. These short clothes are western influences. Our country's
tradition asks girls to dress decently.”
Further, in reference to a question about Khap Panchayats -- which have
faced criticism for harsh rulings -- Khattar said, “Khaps maintain the
tradition of a girl and boy being brother and sister. They are just
making sure that a girl and boy do not see each other in the wrong way.
These rulings help prevent rapes too."
Khattar went on to dismiss premarital sex, calling it 'ulti seedhi
cheezein'. "Pre-marital sex is a blot. Sex after marriage is acceptable.
Pre-marital sex happens as the minds of the girls and boys are not on
the right track.”
Khattar’s comments may sound regressive, but India’s political elite
doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to gender sensitivity.
A few months ago, when the country was reeling from the news of the two
dalit girls who were gangraped and murdered in Badaun, Madhya Pradesh
Home Minister, the BJP’s Babulal Gaur stoked a controversy when he said,
“It [rape] is a social crime which depends on the man and the woman. It
is sometimes right and sometimes wrong.”
The statement coincided with remarks made by UP Public Works Department
(PWD) minister Shivpal Singh Yadav who said, “Uttar Pradesh is a big
state but when compared, the incidents of crime and rape in other states
is more, than here, but the incidents taking place here are blown up by
the media.”
Joining the fray, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav made the headlines
when he responded to a reporter who asked for a comment on the Badaun
case with a shocking, “you are safe, why do you worry?”
To make matters worse, Akhilesh’s father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, while
addressing a rally in Moradabad on April 10, said " Rape accused should
not be hanged. Boys make mistakes." " Citing the example of Shakti Mills
gang rape, where three rapists were arrested, he said " …efforts will
be made to change such a law, so that those misusing it are punished.
Those filing false reports will also be taken to task."
On April 11, a day after the remarks made by Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP
State president Abu Azmi said, " If a woman is caught ( in a rape case
), then both she and the boy should be punished. In India, there is
death penalty for rape, but when there's consensual sex outside
marriage, there's no death penalty against women".
Azmi’s statements created an uproar on twitter and other social
networking sites. Later, Azmi offered a foot-in-mouth clarification
saying that his comments were not in reference to the Shakti Mills case.
"I never said that the photojournalist who was raped at the Shakti
Mills should be hanged too. Here, she was not the culprit, but in many
cases where sex happens by consent and then the girl complains of rape,
both men and women should be punished".
These recent statements have led to a debate on the culture of impunity,
where political dismissal of crimes against women encourages
perpetrators and discourages victims from speaking out.
The UP and Haryana politicians, are of course, not alone in their gender
insensitivity. In January 2009, after the Mangalore pub attack on
women, then Chief Minister of Karnataka, B.S. Yeddyurappa created a stir
when instead of unequivocally condemning the attack, he said that he
wanted to "end the culture of boys and girls roaming around in malls
holding hands".
Ashok Gehlot then said that the pub and mall culture in India should be
banned. He said "Because of liquor culture, over 6000 rape cases were
reported in Rajasthan when the BJP was in power. We don't want this to
happen."
On July 28 2012, the Hindu Jagarane Vedike, a right-wing group, on a
home stay in Mangalore where a birthday party was taking place,
perpetuated a violent attack. 12 boys and 5 girls were stripped, beaten
and molested. The group’s activists claimed that the youngsters were
drinking alcohol and were involved in "indecent activities".
Later, the State Women's Commission Chairperson Pramila Nesargi said "
If you see the larger picture, those who beat up the girls were not
entirely at fault. If you see a woman trying to jump into the well, you
will not have time to think whether she was clad or not. This was a
similar case. Won't you beat a child if she does a mistake ? Necessity
knows no law." She also demanded that the alcohol consumption at parties
be banned.
Nesargi’s comments received flak additionally for her role as the
Women’s Commission Chairperson, but others in similar positions have
echoed Nesargi’s position. The NCW ( National Commission for Women )
Chairperson Mamta Sharma on July 17, 2012, pinning the blame for crimes
against women on women’s dress and mannerisms, said " Be comfortable,
but at the same time be careful about how you dress… Aping the West
blindly is eroding our culture and causing such crimes to happen ".
Another prominent member of a body meant to serve women, NCP leader and
Maharashtra Women’s Commission member Asha Mirge in reference to the
December New Delhi gang rape, questioned why the girl was out with a
friend late at night. Mirge went on to warn women to remain careful
about the way they dress, lest they invite such incidents.
Women’s dress and conduct has been a unifying theme in a large number of
statements regarding violence and discrimination against women. On July
21, 2012, The then Madhya Pradesh Industries minister Kailash
Vijavargiya said "Women's fashion, lifestyle and conduct should be in
accordance with Indian culture… women should not wear clothes that
provoke others ( to misbehave with them )." Referring to the Guwahati
molestation case he also said " Women should dress in such a way that
they invoke respect in others. However, unfortunately women are dressing
provocatively which is leading to deviation in society."
It’s not just the politicians who reflect this discriminatory mind-set. A
sting operation carried out by Tehelka was done on Delhi NCR police
officials over two weeks asking about their opinions on rape victims.
One police official by the name of Dharamveer Singh who is the SHO of
Indrapuram said " It's very rare that a girl is forcefully picked up by
10 boys. A girl who gets into a car with boys is never innocent. If she
does, she definitely has a relationship with at least one of them".
Sunil Kumar, Inspector of the Delhi Police said " If a girl living in
Delhi does not want this trauma, she will not encourage it. No rape in
Delhi can happen without the girl's provocation.
On July 10, 2011, the former Delhi Police Commissioner, B.K. Gupta said "
You cannot drive alone at 2am on Delhi's roads and then claim that the
Capital is unsafe. Then you need to take someone along." He believed
that women who travel with a companion would be safe, proved wrong by
the December 2012 Delhi rape in addition to numerous other less
publicised but equally condemnable incidents. Further, India’s judiciary
has also demonstrated the same patriarchal disposition. On January 10,
2006, a labourer by the name of Ramkishan Harijan sodomised a 10 month
old child. On January 1, 2008, The Bombay High Court reduced his
sentence of 10 years to 7 years on the ground that he " lost control
over himself as he was living away from his family. "
These comments, a reflection of a dominant discourse that pins the blame
for violence on the woman - for her dress, conduct, interests and
company, has led to criticism for perpetuating a culture of impunity
that emboldens criminals and discourages victims from speaking up.
Chennai February 11: Promising to expand their base in
Haryana, several leading companies of South India have offered
investment proposals to the tune of Rs 3000 crore in the State.
This was disclosed by Chief Minister Mr Manohar Lal while addressing a
press conferencing after having one-to-one meeting with entrepreneurs in
Chennai today.
He also announced that the State government would soon unveil its new
Labour and IT policies to give further boost to industrial sector as
well as provide employability to the youth in the State. The new Labour
Policy would be more industrial and labour friendly, he added.
He said that a Skill Development University is also being set up in the
State and it has also been decided to constitute an Economic Advisory
Council, which would have CEOs and founders of the companies set up in
Haryana as its members. The State Government has also set up Haryana
Skill Development Mission for skill development of the youth. The
Central Government has notified Gurgaon, Manesar, Bawal area and
Panchkula as well as Barwala as Brown Field Cluster.
He said that Chief Executive Officers and Business Captains of 12
leading companies of South India met him and expressed their keen
interest in establishing their units in the State in the sectors of
logistic, manufacturing, food processing, infrastructure, glass industry
and education. The prominent among these included Gati Limited, Siemens
Industry Software Limited, LUKAS TVS Limited, Saint Gobain India,
SCHWING Stetter (India) Private Limited and Farm Fresh Banana.
The Chief Minister also invited the entrepreneurs to participate in the Happening Haryana Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar (right) at a press conference, in Chennai on Wednesday
to be organised in Gurgaon on March 7 and 8, 2016 and also in the
Haryana Pravasi Diwas on March 9. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
is the national partner of this event.
When asked to comment on the quantum of investment which Haryana is
expecting to get during the Happening Haryana Global Investors
Summit-2016, the Chief Minister said that the State Government has
signed 20 MOUs with the leading companies and the Wanda Group of China
alone has offered to invest 10 billion dollars in the State. Considering
the overwhelming response shown by the entrepreneurs in the new
Enterprises Promotion Policy -2015, we hope to exceed the target of Rs
one lakh crore. He said that we have a target of providing employment
opportunities to four lakh youth in the State.
On being asked to comment on the incentives being offered to Micro
Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs), the Chief Minister said that the
State has been segregated into four sectors. He said that there is no
need to get Change in Land Use (CLU) in 38 blocks. He said that under a
special scheme for start-up enterprises by first generation
professionally and technically qualified youth who are CA, MBA, B.Tech.,
M.Tech. etc. with five years work experience, no state taxes would be
levied up-to a turnover of Rs. three crore or three years , whichever is
earlier.
In reply to another question, he said that there was no controversy over
the ban on beef in the State. No one has approached the Government in
this regard. The Government has already implemented an Act in this
regard, he added.
On being asked to comment on the steps being taken for the uniform
industrial development in the State, he said that as Haryana has been
divided into four pockets – A,B,C,D, the less industrially developed
areas have been kept in pocket D. He said that incentives on sale tax
and self certification is being given on those areas where the presence
of industries are less.
While drawing the attention of media persons towards the ‘Happening
Haryana Global Investors Summit’ which is being organized in Gurgaon on
March 7 and 8 and Haryana Pravasi Divas on March 9 ,2016, the Chief
Minister said that ‘Happening Haryana Global Investors Summit’ is being
organized by the State Government with the cooperation of CII. He said
that he was holding Roadshows at five different places in the country
for the success of the Summit. These Roadshows have already been
organized in Delhi and Kolkata and apart from today’s Roadshow in
Chennai, he would hold two more Roadshows at Mumbai and Bengaluru.
He said that today he had detailed discussion with several CEOs of
various companies and Captains of Industries and motivated them to
invest in Haryana.
While referring to the significant achievements of the present State
government, MrManohar Lal said that inspired by the message of Selfless
Service enshrined in Bhagwad Gita, the Haryana Government had, 15 months
ago, held the reins of administration to serve the masses with the
commitment to eliminate nepotism and ensure ‘Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas’
(Cooperation of all-welfare of all) as well as balanced regional
development.
While reiterating the commitment of his Government to the policy of zero
tolerance for corruption, he said that with a view to provide efficient
services to the people in a time bound and transparent manner and
without any hassle, the Government has started online services like
registration of property, CM Web Portal, e-Stamp, e-Disha Sewa, CM
Window, Citizen Portal namely ‘HarSamay’, CM e-Dashboard, BISWAS and
e-Biz portal.
He said that emphasis is being laid on strengthening of infrastructure
development and connectivity for example development of road network,
expansion of health services, improvement in power network, skill
development of the youth and expansion of educational facilities.The
Western Peripheral Expressway would be constructed at a cost of Rs 4,115
crore. The 136 kms long Western Peripheral Expressway that is KMP
project was started in 2006 and was to be completed by 2009. But neither
the previous Central Government nor the previous Haryana Government
were serious about its completion. Now the present State Government has
again got the work on the project started. The 135 kms long Eastern
Peripheral Expressway would cost Rs 7,558 crore.
The stretch of 70 kms National Highway No.-1 of Mukarba Chowk from Delhi
to Panipat would be made eight-lane at a cost of Rs 2,129 crore. The
foundation stone of these projects was laid by the Prime Minister on
November 5, last.The work on Sonepat-Jind railway line is almost
complete. Haryana State has got three new projects involving an
investment of Rs 1,074 crore in the Rail Budget of 2015-16. Metro rail
service has commenced from Badarpur to Mujesar in Faridabad. There is a
plan to expand Delhi Metro from HUDA City Centre in Gurgaon to Sohna
road and Kundli in Sonepat. The work has commenced on its expansion from
YMCA Chowk in Faridabad to Ballabgarh. We also have a plan to link
Gurgaon with Faridabad.
The Chief Minister said that Haryana government has set up a special
purpose vehicle for mass rapid transport, under which Haryana Mass Rapid
Transport Corporation has been formed to make the mass rapid project
functional.A Rail Coach Factory would be set up in the State. Therefore,
a special purpose vehicle is being set up for which a MoU would be
signed with the Railway.
He said that Haryana Skill Development Mission has been constituted for
skill development of the youth and a skill development mission is also
being started.A Horticulture University is being set up in Karnal. A
food park would be set up at Barhi in District Sonepat and another such
park would come up at Samalkha in Panipat district in the private
sector.
The Chief Minister said that the Government has formulated an Estate
Management Procedure Policy-2015 on the pattern of New Enterprises
Promotion Policy-2015. This policy has simplified rules and procedures.
Under this policy, the plot allotment procedure will be transparent. No
enhancement will be charged from the allottee in future. Relaxation
would be given in minimum construction parameters. A provision has been
made for partial completion of the project.For reputed projects,
exemption has been granted in provisions of exit route. The provisions
of plot transfer have also been simplified. The procedure for refund has
been simplified for issues of plot surrender or its resumption. The
procedure to give complex on lease has also been simplified. There would
be no need for any sanction to make any change in the project or to
mortgage the plot. Definitions of ‘services’ have been formulated.
Mr Manohar Lal said that service sector is a fast emerging area. The
youth are keen to make their career in areas of e-Commerce, Banking,
Hotel Management, Tourism, Management, IT and Insurance. This area has
ample employment opportunities.
Several incentives have been given in New Enterprises Promotion Policy
for development of service sector. Upto 25 per cent of the plots have
been reserved in estates of the HSIIDC for entrepreneurs of service
sector. For the professionals of first generation having five years of
experience and technically eligible youth (CA/MA/B.Tech/M.Tech etc.) who
will start an industry would not have to pay any State Tax under a
special scheme for business of upto Rs three crore or for three years,
whichever is earlier. Such entrepreneurs would be provided with
constructed areas on rent or lease in the flatted factory complexes of
the HSIIDC.
While referring to the success of the New Enterprises Promotion Policy,
he said that with a view to invite Foreign Direct Investment to Haryana,
he had visited USA and Canada from August 16 to 24. That was a very
fruitful visit. The entrepreneurs of America and Canada, especially the
Indo-American and Indo-Canadian entrepreneurs expressed their keen
interest to invest in Haryana. Recently, he said that he has been to
Japan and China too from January 17 to 23,2016. That visit was also very
successful since the entrepreneurs have also expressed their keen
desire to invest in Haryana.
He said that he had inaugurated the complex of Snapdeal in Gurgaon in
November last. Snapdeal is a unique example to usher-in startup business
revolution. More than 5,000 people are employed in the Snapdeal complex
at Gurgaon. Snapdeal has set up five fulfillment centres (warehouse) in
Haryana. These have provided direct and indirect employment to more
than 40,000 persons in Haryana. They have a capacity of two lakh square
feet and Snapdeal has a plan to increase their capacity by 50 per cent,
which would provide employment to more people.
He said that during last one year, 1,681 micro and small industries as
well as nine medium and large industrial units have been set up in the
State. They have made an investment of Rs 1,327 crore and have given
employment to 39,400 persons.
In Chennai on a road show ahead of Happening Haryana investors summit
Chennai, February 10:
Japanese auto
major Suzuki is examining the option of investing in Haryana, according
to the State Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
During
a recent visit to Japan to attract potential investors to the State, he
had met Osamu Suzuki, CEO, Suzuki Motor, and invited him to put up a
plant in the State, the Chief Minister told newspersons on a road show
on Happening Haryana, a global investors summit scheduled to take place
in Gurgaon on March 7 and 8.
Haryana produces 50 per
cent of the passenger vehicles and 60 per cent of the motorcycles in the
country. It is also home to three small- and medium-size enterprise
auto-component clusters, he said.
During his visit to
Beijing, Chinese group Dalian Wanda had pledged an investment of $10
billion to set up an industrial park near Sonepat, Khattar said.
Last
November, the target was to attract around ₹1 lakh crore investments
during the GIM. However, the number could be more than double as ₹60,000
crore has already been committed by Dalian Wanda.
The State government has already signed nearly 20 agreements with various companies that plan to invest in Haryana, he said.
New policies
The
State government would soon unveil its new labour and IT policies to
boost the industrial sector and provide employability to youth.
The new labour policy would be more industrial and labour friendly, the Chief Minister added.
Khattar
said several leading companies of South India have offered investment
proposals to the tune of ₹3,000 crore in the State. Officials from 12
companies met him in the morning and expressed interest in establishing
their units in the State, in sectors such as logistic, manufacturing,
food processing, infrastructure, glass industry and education.
The
companies include Gati Limited, Siemens Industry Software Limited,
Lucas TVS Limited, Saint Gobain India, Schwing Stetter (India) and Farm
Fresh Banana, Khattar said.
Chennai was the third
city after Delhi and Kolkata to have the road show. The next stop-over
will be Bengaluru, followed by Mumbai.
There were road shows organised in the US and Canada as well, he said.
Chandigarh:Haryana
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the Jat reservation bill passed
by the assembly today was a "win-win" for all and "no section stands to
lose".
"No section stands to lose, it is a
win-win thing for all. A long pending issue has been solved, we have
kept our promise. The Bill was passed unanimously in the Assembly,"
Khattar told a press conference after the Bill was unanimously passed by
voice-vote.
Opposition Congress members were not
present in the House when the Bill was passed as they stayed away to
protest the suspension of their three members for six months for tearing
copies of the Governor's Address in the Assembly a fortnight ago.
While
Khattar and his cabinet colleagues, including Finance Minister
Abhimanyu, claimed it was a "historic day" for Haryana, opposition
Congress slammed the BJP government.
Former Chief Minister
Bhupinder Singh Hooda said what the BJP government had brought in the
Assembly was a "carbon copy" of what the Congress had provided during
its rule but the Supreme Court had quashed the move.
The
Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in
Educational Institutions) Bill, 2016 proposed to give reservation to
Jats and five other castes - Jat Sikhs, Rors, Bishnois, Tyagis and Mulla
Jat/Muslim Jat -- in government services and admission to educational
institutions.
The Chief Minister, who was interacting with
mediapersons shortly after he was greeted by Khap leaders following the
passage of the Bill, said the provisions would be implemented
immediately after the Governor's assent to the Bill.
He said a
request would also be made to the Centre to include the Act in the 9th
Schedule of the Constitution so as to shield it from judicial review.
The Haryana reservation bill faces a tough task ahead. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Haryana Reservation Bill Passes First Test, but Will Find it Tough to Clear the Next
By Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar on 18/04/2016 • Leave a comment
The bill takes the total quota in Haryana to over 50%, in violation of Supreme Court guidelines, and seeks to provide reservation on religious ground, which the apex court has previously rejected.
Credit: Sean Ellis/Flickr Commons
Venerating Casteism in the Quest of the ‘Idea’ of India
By Subhashini Ali on 15/04/2016 • 2 Comments
Given the source of Gurgaon’s new name, one is forced to ask – can respect for Ambedkar and the Constitution co-exist with the veneration of the casteist Dronacharya as the ideal guru?
VIolent protests by the Jat community have broke out across North India. Credit: PTI
A Conspicuous Silence in Murthal on Rape Allegations
By Jahnavi Sen and Akhil Kumar on 12/03/2016 • 1 Comment
The local community has dismissed all reports of sexual violence and rape, but the atmosphere in Murthal is shrouded in mystery.
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How a Conspiracy of Incompetence Unleashed Anarchy at Delhi’s Doorstep
By Harish Khare on 04/03/2016 • 1 Comment
The manner in which the RSS poster boy in Haryana faltered in the face of the recent Jat agitation tells us a lot about the qualities of a swayamsewak.
Protesting Jats have destroyed homes and establishments. Credit: PTI
Understanding the Caste Politics Behind the Jat Agitation
By Chander Suta Dogra on 23/02/2016 • 2 Comments
As the quota violence wears down and the government ponders over the detailing of its proposed new legislation to give Jats reservation, one wonders what steps will be taken, if any, to bridge the ugly caste divide brewing in Haryana.
Long shadow over civil liberties. Credit: Shome Basu
Muslim Residents Fearful After Gurgaon Police Make First ‘Beef’ Arrests
By Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty on 04/02/2016 • 5 Comments
A complaint by cow protection vigilantes led to swift – and some say brutal – police action. And after testing the meat seized and concluding it was beef, the police handed it over to the vigilantes who then disposed of it.
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How the BJP Chose an RSS Pracharak Over Shaheed Bhagat Singh
By Chander Suta Dogra on 24/12/2015 • 5 Comments
In its desperate search for historical icons of its own, the BJP doesn’t mind casting aside the memory of the most revered Indian martyr.
Too Poor to Bother About Democracy? Women in rural Haryana. Credit: Shubham Basu/Flickr CC BY-ND 2.0
The Supreme Court Just Delivered a Deadly Blow to the Idea of Universal Adult Franchise
By Alok Prasanna Kumar on 10/12/2015 • 7 Comments
Haryana’s rural masses, especially women and dalits, burdened as they are by indebtedness and inadequate government investment in education and sanitation, will henceforth run the risk of being disqualified from standing for local body elections.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar raising a mace at a function to commemorate the first anniversary of the state government in Sirsa on October 24. Credit: PTI
RTI Reply Shows Haryana CM Made Tall Claims about Accomplishments of US Trip
By Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar on 28/10/2015 • 3 Comments
Two months ago, he said he had clinched food processing industry investments worth Rs 5,000 crore and several thousand jobs for the state during a trip to the US. But a Right to Information query now reveals that no such agreement was signed during the visit.
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A Government of the RSS, by the RSS, for the RSS
By Harish Khare on 11/09/2015 • 5 Comments
Why are liberal souls losing their shirt just because the Prime Minister and his ministerial colleagues all chose to put in an appearance before the RSS chief and his advisers?
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Sanjiv Chaturvedi: Modi is Not the Anti-Corruption Messiah We Were Waiting For
By Chander Suta Dogra on 08/08/2015 • 4 Comments
Like many people I took the PM’s election slogan of ‘Na Khaoonga, na khaane doonga’ at face value… I am hugely disappointed, says the Magsaysay Award winning bureaucrat-turned-whistleblower
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How Haryana Under Hooda Diluted Zoning Rules to Help DLF Leisure Project
By Chander Suta Dogra on 02/06/2015
With missionary zeal, the erstwhile Hooda government tried to remove obstacles in the path of DLF’s ‘leisure’ project in Gurgaon.
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While Going After Vadra’s Land Deal, Why is the BJP Not Probing DLF?
By Chander Suta Dogra on 29/05/2015
Was there a quid pro quo for DLF in return for its sweetheart deal with the Congress president’s son-in-law? The Haryana government is silent on Khemka’s letter that suggests there was.
