Letters: Courts as the only hope

It's a matter of grave concern that the protesting Jats have given the Haryana government a 72-hour ultimatum to accept their two main demands - reservation under Other Backward Classes quota and withdrawal of criminal cases against them during their earlier stir - failing which they would again block highways and rail tracks from March 17. How can a self-respecting, democratic government let itself and its its innocent people be held to ransom in this way?

Last month's violent agitation by the Jats saw the destruction and looting of properties, the blockade of key highways and railway tracks and the alleged rape and molestation of women. All through this, the state government and the state police seemed to remain mum.

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One wishes the government would take pre-emptive action against the troublemakers, but may find it difficult to do so because of political compulsions. In such a situation people would have to fall back on the Punjab and Haryana High Court and/or the Supreme Court to take suo moto action.

S K Gupta, New Delhi

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