New Delhi: With Jats deciding to launch quota agitation again, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday said his government will not allow peace to be disturbed as he met BJP chief Amit Shah here to deliberate on the sensitive issue.
Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan, a Jat leader from western UP roped in by the party to hold talks with community leaders, insisted that the state government was doing everything possible to restore the Jat quota, which has been stayed by Punjab and Haryana High Court, and will fight the case strongly.
Khattar was joined by party general secretary and the state in-charge Anil Jain besides Balyan during the meeting with Shah.
"Talks are on. We will not allow peace to be disturbed," Khattar told reporters after the meeting.
At least 30 people were killed and property worth hundreds of crores of rupees was destroyed during the violent quota agitation by Jats in February this year.
Buckling under pressure, the state government passed a law in the state assembly to provide reservation for Jats and five other communities under a newly carved Backward Classes (C) category but the High Court stayed it, acting on a public interest litigation. Jat groups have carried out fresh round of protests.
Jain said the state government is fully-prepared to meet any eventuality and tried to play down the issue, saying it should not be hyped.
Balyan said the government has been ready to give quota but the court's order has stopped it.
"We are making every attempt. We will hire the best lawyers to ensure that reservation is restored," he said.
