Haryana govt expected solution to Jat issue through talks: Rajnath Singh

The Home Minister was defending the Centre and the Haryana government on the handling of the agitation

Haryana government expected a solution to the Jat quota issue to emerge out of the talks with community leaders but the protests took a violent turn, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today, defending the Centre and the Haryana government on the handling of the agitation.

Replying to supplementary questions in Rajya Sabha, Singh said there was no lapse on part of either the Centre or state government. The Centre had issued an advisory and the state government had its own intelligence inputs too, he said.

"The state government was expecting a solution would emerge from talks with protestors. I don't see lapses on part of the Centre or the state," Singh said.

Rejecting criticism that there was "utter failure" on the part of Manohar Lal Khattar-led government, he said an inquiry commission headed by former DGP Prakash Singh has been set up and asked the members to wait for its report.

Giving details of action taken following the violent incidents, Singh said 2012 FIRs have been registered, 370 people arrested, besides 20 cases registered by the Government Railway Police. "Action is being taken," he said.

Singh said the protests took a violent turn after an incident in Rohtak where the BSF had to open fire resulting in three deaths.

"The government of Haryana was posted with intelligence inputs and an advisory was also issued to the state on February 19," Singh said.

In a statement, the Home Ministry said the Centre had deployed 69 companies of central armed police forces and 56 army columns to maintain law and order in the state. There was "good coordination" between the Centre and the state, it said.

Earlier, members of various political parties slammed the government over the violence in the state.