Haryana, BJP come out openly for Jat reservation

Chandigarh, March 24 (IANS) Haryana's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its government have openly come out in support of job quota for Jats even after the Supreme Court recently quashed a central government notification giving reservation to the community.

State Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar said on Tuesday that the decision of the Supreme Court on the Jat reservation is being examined.

"Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is sensitive towards this issue and he has convened a meeting to hear the views of representatives of Jat community at Chandigarh tomorrow (March 25)," Dhankar told media persons here.

The minister said that the "BJP as a party is in favour of reservation to Jat community" and has provided them reservation during its rule in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Dhankar said that union Rural Development Minister Birender Singh, Haryana Finance Minister Abhimanyu and BJP MP Dharambir Singh, all Jat community leaders of the BJP, have met party president Amit Shah on this issue.

"We requested him to take an appointment for meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah has invited representatives of 8-9 Jat-dominated states to New Delhi on March 26 at 11 a.m. for holding further talks on this issue," Dhankar said.

Asked to comment on reports that the Jat reservation issue was not being advocated properly in the Supreme Court, Dhankar said it appeared that the decision, taken by the previous UPA government, of giving reservation to Jats was done in a hurry without complying with the procedures of the National Commission for Backward Classes.

"We will try to make amends in it," he said.