Rs 10 lakh for families of those killed

Tribune News Service

The Haryana Government today announced compensation for the damage caused to private properties as well as Rs 10 lakh ex gratia to the kin of those killed in the Jat agitation.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said no "false" cases would be registered against anyone. 

He said the government would bring a Bill in coming Assembly session to give reservation to Jats and would get the audio clip of Prof Varinder Singh, a former Political Adviser to the then Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, examined since he allegedly “tried to flare up  the ongoing agitation in the state”.

He was replying to questions of mediapersons after a Cabinet meeting here today. “The Chief Minister had already made the offer at the all-party meeting and asked for unanimity on the provisions of the draft Bill. Both the INLD and the Congress had welcomed this and suggested for consultations on the draft Bill before it was moved in the session,” he said.

 Asked about the reservation quota proposed to be given to Jats, Ram Bilas Sharma said the state government would not disturb the quota of 27 per cent reservation meant for other backward classes. He added that as a Bill was being brought, the Government would make a separate provision for their reservation.

On  Prof Varinder Singh's audio clip which had gone viral, he said he himself had heard it and the matter was crystal clear. It would be investigated and action taken under the law, he added.

As many as 16 persons had so far lost their lives in the Jat agitation and 183 were injured, he said. 

Also, 320 cases had been registered and 102 persons arrested. While blockades at several places have been lifted , efforts are on to remove the remaining 449 blockades on rail tracks and roads. 

Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar said that Haryana Roadways had suffered a loss of Rs 15 crore as 33 buses had been set on fire and 99 damaged. 

the Administration and security forces had got made the Munak canal functional this morning by getting the dharna lifted at Akbarpur  to ensure supply of water to Delhi but the protesters again blocked the canal at Kabru. The protesters were now being urged to release water. As an immediate measure, the water of Yamuna canal was being supplied to Delhi through the Munak canal.