Rajnath reviews Haryana situation, briefs PM Modi

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Haryana arising out of Jat agitation for reservation and violence.

During the half-an-hour meeting, Singh gave a detailed presentation about the agitation and subsequent violence as well as the steps taken to restore normalcy in Haryana, official sources said.

The Home Minister also apprised the Prime Minister about the meeting he had with a delegation of Jat leaders on Sunday and the decisions taken in it, sources said.

As violence continued in Haryana, Singh took stock of the situation in the state with top officials, including NSA Ajit Doval and Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, among others. The Home Minister was given a detailed presentation by senior officials on violence during the agitation and blockades put up by Jats, official sources said.

Singh has directed the authorities concerned that all necessary steps must be taken to bring back peace and normalcy in Haryana and there should be no compromise in maintaining law and order.

The Home Minister was told that around 7,300 paramilitary personnel have been deployed, besides Army columns, to assist the state government to deal with the situation, sources said. He said water supply to Delhi must be maintained at all cost and road and other communication networks must be restored as early as possible.

The Centre has directed security forces to use force to clear blockades put up by Jats. Water supply to Delhi from Haryana is expected to be fully restored by Tuesday as security forces have took control of the Munak canal.

Three persons were killed and nine injured as stone-pelting protestors clashed with Army and paramilitary personnel, who were trying to clear a blockade on the Ambala-Delhi National Highway at Ladsoli village in Sonipat, taking the toll to 19. Efforts to reopen the crucial highway failed with the protestors putting up blockade at several places between Panipat and Delhi. The highway connects Delhi with North India, including Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.