Jat reservation protest: No power, no food, no water; total anarchy in Rohtak

The absence of police and officials of the administration is being widely criticised by the residents of Rohtak who state that a situation that could have been better controlled.

Armymen take out a flag march in Rohtak on Saturday. Express

With the supply stock running dry, residents of Rohtak are at the receiving end of the Jat agitation. Apart from essential items like milk and vegetables running low, power and water supply have also been disrupted.

Residents complained that the police and the local administration are nowhere to be seen, leaving anyone to loot and commit arson at will. They also alleged that the flag march held by the Army, police and district administration Saturday did not venture anywhere near the centre of the protest at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU).

Visuals Of The Jat Agitation, Rapid Action Force & Central Reserve Police Force

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“Everyone is scared and there is no one to put our fears to rest. We see the protesters going around fearlessly. There seems to be no one to check them. There is so much uncertainty. We do not know what is going to happen,” said a resident, who did not wish to be named.

“The power supply was disconnected in the morning. Due to this, the water supply was also affected. We do not know when the supply will be restored. If

the protests continue, our troubles will multiply,” said Seema, another Rohtak resident.

On Saturday, many protesters were also seen bringing in weapons by defying the curfew imposed in the city.

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A number of women from adjoining villages also joined the protesters on Saturday and prepared food for the protesters inside the MDU campus.

“If the police or army take any action, we will take the bullet. We have decided to be here till the end of the protest,” said a woman protester.

Meanwhile, people who had come to the city for work said they were stuck and had no way of getting out. Fed up, a group even walked towards Delhi as hardly any vehicle was plying.

Mani Ram said he was from Gorakhpur and had a train ticket for Sunday. But with the agitation having all but crippled transportation, he is not sure if he will be able to catch the train. “There are many labourers stuck here. Ration and money are running out. We do not know where to go,” he said.

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Former Haryana Home Minister Subhash Batra, whose son-in-law’s shop was gutted Friday, said it was “total anarchy” in Rohtak. “The government has failed completely. Such a situation has never been seen in Haryana. Protesters are running amok and there is no check,” said Batra.

Looting continues

Fresh cases of looting and arson were reported Saturday. Several buildings were set on fire, including the local circuit house, a mall and a petrol pump. The looters, witnesses said, took away whatever they could lay their hands on — from branded shoes to clothes. ATMs, too, were looted.

Committee formed

Protesters at MDU constituted a 10-member committee that prepared a list of their demands. Apart from Jat reservation, their demands included compensation to the families of those who died in police firing and government job to one person in the family.

Notice to BJP MP

The BJP has decided to issue a show-cause notice to Rajkumar Saini, its MP from Kurukshetra, for continuing with “anti-Jat comments” despite being cautioned by the party. Security has also been beefed up at his residence in Panchkula. Saini had said that the Jat demand for reservation was illegal and that that it was entirely unacceptable to him and other members of the OBCs.

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