A determined Shah, bent on consolidating his party’s position all over India turned to Haryana on Wednesday. After Rajasthan, Shah’s convoy arrived in Rohtak, the stronghold of former chief minister of Haryana, Bhupinder Singh. Rohtak was the epicenter of Jat agitation a year and a half ago.
Out of 10, BJP won 9 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, barring Rohtak. It was Congress that captured Rohtak Lok Sabha Seat in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Congress candidate Deepender Hooda, the son of Bhupinder Hooda seized the Rohtak seat, overriding the Modi wave in the country.
This time, Shah-led BJP BJP will leave no stone unturned. Eyeing the 2019 Parliamentary elections, Shah will try to appease the local Jat population in Rohtak. Hundreds of BJP supporters lined up on the Rohtak-New Delhi national highway to welcome Shah in the Congress stronghold.
Meanwhile, the members of AIJSS (All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti) made an attempt to approach Shah. They requested a face-to-face meeting with Shah, a fact informed by Yashpal Malik, AIJSS president.
Unperturbed by BJP proceedings, Hooda brushed off the rumors of BJP’s victory in the upcoming elections. He termed it as a party procedure, saying that the president is visiting all the states in the country.
The leaders kept their proposals before Shah, in a meeting attended by party leaders and MLAs. BJP MLA Prem Lata, the wife of union minister Birender Singh, demanded more representation for Jats in the party. She said it was essential for wooing the Jat communities. She raised this issue in a meeting presided over by Shah. The idea was welcomed by the party president, who assured they would address this issue in a better manner.
Mr. Ram Chander Jangra, the Chairman of Haryana’s Backward Classes & Economically Weaker Group, assured better representation of downtrodden communities, especially Jats in the core group. Meanwhile, woman Khap leader, Sudesh Chaudhary raised voice on the involvement of police with the local drug and liquor mafia. On her request, the chief minister instructed the finance minister to investigate this matter.
Contrary to all expectations, there were no incidents of violence and agitation by local communities.
