INLD leader defies party line, opposes reservation for Jats

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, February 23

Speaking against the party line, state INLD vice-president Abhimanyu Rao has resisted the reservation for Jats in government jobs and educational institutes stating that the community is not backward in any terms; hence, their demand for reservation is totally ‘illogical’ and ‘baseless’.

“Jats are not backward at all in terms of financial, educational and political conditions. Hence, the state government should take a firm decision over the quota and not bow to the protesting Jats,” said Rao while interacting with mediapersons here today.

Notably, the INLD is supporting the ongoing Jat agitation and its leader Abhay Singh Chautala has already urged the state government to accept the demands of the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS), which is spearheading the stir across the state.

Attacking AIJASS chief Yashpal Malik, the INLD leader said he was trying to vitiate the social atmosphere of the state by making inflammatory statements during his visit to Haryana. He urged the state government to ban Malik’s entry into the state to maintain law and order situation here.

Rao said Chaudhary Devi Lal had never ever favoured reservation for Jats as he knew that the community did not need it. “I have already got my protest registered with the party high command over the issue and shall not back out even if I have to tender resignation,” he added.

The INLD leader also demanded that the state government should issue a white paper on caste-wise representation in government jobs. It would clear the position of all castes in the state jobs and the issue of reservation would end on its own, he added.