Jat stir: Businessmen peg Rs 1,000 crore loss in Rohtak

Rohtak: The business community in Rohtak, which faced extensive property damage in arson and violence during the pro-quota Jat stir, on Wednesday pegged their loss at Rs 1,000 cr in this district alone and sought a CBI probe into the incidents.

Accusing the Haryana government of having “completely failed” in controlling the violent mob, the traders and shopkeepers compared the arson and violence with partition riots of 1947. The trading community sought licences for keeping arms and ammunition to protect their property in future as their “faith in administration has been completely shattered”.

“We want a CBI probe into the whole incident. We want to know who were behind the incidents which caused heavy financial losses to us,” Ashok Bhambri, president, Rohtak Hotel and Banquet Association said. Mr Bhambri, whose hotel was ransacked, alleged the security personnel acted just as “mute spectators” when their property was being looted and burnt. He said most businessmen after partition shifted and settled in Rohtak.