Jat stir: Haryana govt assures compensation to people affected by protest

Chandigarh: A traders' body on Sunday claimed the Haryana government has assured it of providing full compensation within one month to owners of shops and commercial establishments whose properties were damaged by arsonists during pro quota Jat agitation.

A delegation of traders under the banner of Haryana Pradesh Beopar Mandal on Sunday held a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to discuss their demands, they said.

"Haryana CM has assured us to give 100 per cent compensation within 30 days to affected traders and shopkeepers whose properties were damaged during Jat agitation," HPBM state president Bajrang Das Garg said here on Sunday.

Businessmen who had suffered massive financial loss during pro quota Jat agitation were upset with Khattar government for initial compensation which they had described as "insufficient".

Traders had threatened to observe a state wide bandh on March 17.

Garg further said the state government has also agreed to waive off bank interest on loan availed by affected traders for three months.

Mandal's general secretary Gulshan Dang who was also part of the delegation said Khattar has assured the delegation the affected traders will be provided bank loans at 4 per cent interest.

Dang said the state government has also assured them that arms licenses will be given to traders on priority for self defence.

"A 7-member committee comprising traders will also be set up for monitoring the distribution of compensation," Dang said.

He said Khattar appealed to the delegation not to go ahead with proposed statewide bandh on March 17.

"We will discuss the assurances given by Khattar in our core committee meeting on March 15 in Bhiwani and then take a call on the proposed bandh," said Dang.

Rohtak, which was the epicentre of the Jat stir, saw massive damage to private and public property including shops, schools, colleges, hospitals, belonging to non-Jat people by violent protesters.