Rivals ‘exploited’ Jats over OBC quota: Abhay

Hisar: Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief, Abhay Singh Chautala, on Tuesday accused successive Haryana govts of failing the Jat community on the issue of reservation, claiming both the Congress and BJP have exploited the matter for political gain.Speaking at a Jat Sevak Sangh event honoring UPSC candidates, Abhay alleged that political maneuvers had replaced genuine action regarding the community's demand for inclusion in the other backward classes (OBC) category. He has targeted the former Congress administration led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, claiming that ahead of the 2014 assembly elections, the party promised reservation to five castes — including Jats — purely as an electoral strategy. He noted that while a special assembly session was convened to announce a 10% quota, the implementation was never effective.Turning his critique toward the incumbent BJP, Chautala said the community was "forced to protest" in 2016 due to govt inaction. He has claimed that under the leadership of former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the issue remained stalled despite various assurances. "The govt spoke of forming commissions, but for two years only meetings were held, and no concrete outcome emerged," Abhay said. He added that the 2016 agitation resulted in the loss of 36 lives without yielding a lasting legislative solution.The event was presided over by BJP legislator Sunil Sangwan, who shifted the focus to administrative reform while addressing newly selected IAS and IPS officers. Sangwan urged the future bureaucrats to ensure efficient governance, arguing that the need for political intervention in routine matters indicates a systemic breakdown. "If a common citizen needs a politician's recommendation for legitimate work, it reflects a failure of the system," Sangwan said.He called for increased transparency and accountability in public service, invoking the legacies of influential Haryanvi leaders such as Sir Chhotu Ram, Tau Devi Lal, and Bansi Lal to inspire the officers to prioritise state development. MSID:: 130260992 413 |