Jat agitators retreat in Haryana, unsustainable agriculture is the cause of unrest

Don't want to miss the best from Business Standard?

The protests by the Jat agitators across Haryana have subsided with the reports of sporadic incidents of violence occurring at some places, the Jat community in Haryana has started retreating from the highways.

Talking to Business Standard, Ram Bhagat Malik, State Spokesperson of Akhil Bhartiya Jat Arakshan Sabha said that as the blockades were being removed in different parts of Haryana, the community will assess the actual loss of lives as they do not believe the government reports.

The Government of Haryana has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the family of those killed during the violent protests, the Jat leaders have demanded a government job for each family too.The fragmentation of landholdings and dwindling returns in agriculture, told Malik, has brought the unemployed Jat youth in the streets and reservation in government jobs for Jats is imminent.

The committee appointed under the chairmanship of Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu would safeguard the interests of the farming community. If our demands are not met and Haryana fails to bring a legislation in budget session, we will resume the protests, he added.The Jats in Haryana expect to be included in OBC (Other Backward Classes) quota. The reservation in government jobs in Haryana is over 60%.The Jat leaders want the state to identify the anti-social elements who looted the public and private properties and withdraw the cases against Jats.

The failure of the state government to gauge the gravity of the situation translated in the worsening law and order situation and killing 15 persons.

While apprehending about the risks to fresh investment activities in the region, Mahesh Gupta, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry said there is a huge loss of the economic activity not only in the state of Haryana but across the Northern States of India. Based on inputs received from various industry stakeholders across the states, PHD Chamber has estimated that these states may face Rs. 34,000 crore loss of economic activity due to Jat agitation during the last few days, said Mahesh Gupta. Disruption in overall transportation activities including railways, roads, passenger vehicles, goods vehicles, drop down in tourists arrivals, loss in financial services, hit to the industrial sector including manufacturing, electricity, and construction; the overall activity has choked and may result in a huge loss in the GSDP of states for the last quarter of FY15-16, said Mahesh Gupta.