Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda not allowed to visit violence-hit Rohtak

Rohtak: Former Chief Minister of Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda was on Monday not allowed to visit Rohtak, the epicentre of the Jat stir for quota, due to the law and order problem.

Hooda was stopped at Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district and requested not to proceed further in view of the prevailing situation.

"I am a Jat. I am deeply hurt with the ongoing agitation. I request the state government to announce compensation for everyone who has suffered loss in the agitation," Hooda said.

Hooda, who represents Garhi Sampla Kiloi assembly seat in Rohtak, also appealed to Jat protesters to maintain calm and peace in the state.

An official of Jhajjar administration said, "We requested the former Chief Minister not to visit Rohtak because of law and order problem." Hooda and a number of other party leaders sat on a fast at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi yesterday and urged for calm and amity.

"My appeal is to restore peace and amity. I have also asked all our party MLAs and former MLAs to hold peace meetings in their respective constituencies," he said yesterday.

Hooda, however, refrained from blaming anybody and declined to go into the reasons for the stir, saying, "This is not the time to do so".

"Priority of the hour is peace. I appeal to all not to engage in violence and bring peace," he said.