Tribune News Service

Rohtak, February 24

The trail of damage left behind by the Jat stir has left the industry reeling under losses. The Haryana Automobile Dealers’ Association has demanded the imposition of President’s rule in the state in view of the “complete collapse of the government machinery”.Addressing a press conference here today, Jagmohan Mittal, association’s president, alleged the government had failed to fulfil its constitutional responsibility and, thus, had no right to stay in office.“Losses to the tune of approximately Rs100 crore have been suffered by the automobile dealers due to the arson. Nearly 200 cars, showrooms and stockyards of Hyundai, Chevrolet, Nexa, Honda and Toyota were gutted by agitating youths between February 17 and 20,” said Mittal.Alleging the agitating youths targeted the commercial establishments of a specific group of communities, he demanded compensation for the loss incurred within 15 days. He warned, “If the authorities fail to take concrete action, Haryana-based industrialists and businessmen would be forced to move out of the state.”SK Khatod, president of the Rohtak IDC Industries Association, sought a high-level inquiry into the entire incident. He said the state government should provide relief while accepting the applications for compensation as relevant records and details had been destroyed in fire.Ritesh Singhpuria, president of Jhajjar Road Traders’ Association, demanded CBI inquiry into the entire episode.Railway runs into Rs 300-cr lossHisar: The Northern and North Western divisions of the Railways have suffered about Rs 300 crore losses during the Jat stir with 16 stations being burnt down and 1,400 train cancelled. The railway authorities on Wednesday started assessing damage to its property, which includes torching of stations, damage to tracks, gates and removal of clips. Neeraj Sharma, chief PRO, Northern Railway, said the services of around 1,000 trains were affected on the Delhi-Ambala and Delhi-Ferozepur sections from February 17 to February 22 while another 400 were hit in the North Western division’s Hisar-Bikaner section. He pegged the losses around Rs 250- Rs 300 crore. Another official said all trains were back on track on the Delhi-Ambala section while 90 per cent services had been resumed in the North-Western division. The previous Jat agitation in 2011 had caused a loss of about Rs 74 crore ( Rs 40 crore in UP and Rs 34 crore in Haryana) after which the SC had directed Haryana to compensate the Railways.  TNS

Quotes

• I went to Rohtak to share the pain and grief of the residents who had suffered losses. People’s anger (against me) was natural —Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former CM
• All those who suffered loss of property should file their claims within three days so that disbursement can begin by February 29 —Kavita Jain, Urban Local Bodies Minister
• Properties of those involved in unlawful acts should be attached to compensate for the damage —Karan Dev Kamboj, Food & Supplies Minister
• People of the state had set an example of social harmony during PRI poll. They should now help to restore normalcy and not pay heed to rumours —Om Prakash Dhankar, Panchayat Minister
• I have received inputs that an organisation has been planning to damage religious places of Sikhs to create fresh tension. The matter needs to be probed —Hawa Singh Sangwan, Jat leader
• The INLD demands a CBI inquiry into incidents of arson and strict action against those responsible for the anarchy-like situation in the state —Parminder Singh Dhull, Julana MLA

Govt allows 25 pc interim relief for property damage

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 24

The state government today announced to give an interim assistance immediately to those who would submit their details on a prescribed pro forma on the basis of self-assessment of the damage caused to their properties in the Jat agitation.While stating this here today, an official spokesman said an applicant could claim upto 25 per cent as an interim relief.He said a pro forma for claiming compensation was available on the Urban Local Bodies Department’s website www.ulbharyana.gov.in. “It is also available in the offices of the Deputy Commissioner, SDM, tehsildar and municipality,” he said.He said claimants were required to provide details such as name, Aadhaar number, bank account number along with RTGS/NEFT code, address, electricity account number, if meter is installed, date of natural disaster, fire or law and order disturbance, and whether the damage was covered by an insurance policy.Other details include category of property damaged and extent of damage. “They have also been asked to fill up estimated loss of the items suffered by them,” he said.He said the affected persons should submit the completed pro forma at the earliest to any of the office of the Sub-DivisionalMagistrate (SDM), tehsildar and municipality.The claimants could also contact the office of the Deputy Commissioner in case of any difficulty, he added.Bus service towards Hisar yet to resume Ambala: Most of the blockades on the Ambala-Hisar highway have been lifted, but the Ambala depot has not resumed its service to Hisar and Kaithal. The buses did not ply between Ambala-Kaithal and Ambala-Sirsa routes on Wednesday. Officials said that due to safety reasons, the buses did not ply. Kuldhir Singh, GM, Ambala roadways, said the bus service to Kaithal, Hisar and Sirsa would be started by Thursday after getting clearance from the department. OC

Video showing cop helping loot goes viral

KAITHAL, FEBRUARY 23 .

Close on the heels of ex-Hooda aide audio clip egging on Jats to incite violence, the CCTV footage of cops allegedly facilitating loot by miscreants in Padma Mall here has gone viral.Already under scanner for remaining a mute spectator to the anarchy witnessed in the state, the video allegedly shows an ASI patting the back of looters in the mall on February 22 and letting them escape, instead of making any attempt to apprehend them. It is learnt the Army was deployed at some distance from the mall.Yet another video shows, Mandeep Kaur, SDM, allegedly supporting Jat reservation in a bid to pacify protesters at Titram Mod on February 23. She could be heard saying, “We fought a long battle for reservation and now you promise not to let it go vain with other castes benefitting from it. Hamare bachhe padhein , mera koi chhota bhai aaye aur iss arakshan ka labh uthae.”