Chandigarh :
Jats are on a warpath yet again in Haryana with the state government “failing to fulfil” their demands, including dropping of police cases against members of the community, by the August 16 deadline set by the All-India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS).
The AIJASS led by Yashpal Malik has now decided to protest at public functions of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu in nine districts having a concentration of the community and gradually extend it to six other districts.

The AIJASS wants reservation, withdrawal of cases registered against members of its community during the 2016 agitation, and jobs to seven “martyrs” who died sitting at the dharnas during the course of the agitation.

“The BJP at the Centre and state has betrayed us. Despite sufficient warnings and time to meet our demands already accepted in previous rounds of talks, they have let the August 16 deadline lapse. If they understand the language of protests, we are ready,” Malik told.

The All-India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti has decided to initially “target” functions of the two top state BJP leaders in the Jat belt of Rohtak, Panipat, Sonepat, Hisar, Kaithal, Jind, Dadri, Jhajjar and Bhiwani.

“These protests will be held only if these two leaders address programmes in the hinterland and will be managed by our local teams. We will keep out of the cities for the time being,” said Malik. The rural belt has essentially been chosen by the AIJASS to show its strength and display its following.

Sources said the CM’s next public programme, a roadshow, to be held in Kaithal on August 25-26 had been put off in view of the protest call. He is now slated to attend a programme on August 25 in Dabwali.

CM’s media adviser Rajiv Jain said the Kaithal roadshow was cancelled on account of the “asthi kalash yatra” of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Had it been because of Jat protest, the Dabwali rally should also have been called off. Dabwali, incidentally, is among the six districts of Karnal, Kurukshetra, Palwal, Sirsa, Fathehabad and Rewari where the protests will be extended by the end of next month only.

Police in districts with Jat concentration have been put on alert and their preparedness to deal with protests is being reviewed.

Chandigarh :
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has approved over Rs 238 crore for the improvement of 73 roads in the state. 

While stating this, Public Works (Building and Roads) Minister Rao Narbir Singh said the improvement of these roads would be carried out under NABARD Rural Infrastructure Development Fund.

 He said Rs 373.75 lakh had been approved for the improvement of Badyal to Nimbwala link road in Panchkula district. 

In Yamunanagar district, while Rs 90.65 lakh has been approved for the improvement of Jagadhri workshop road, Rs 27.03 lakh for the improvement of Chhachhrauli-Paonta to Rayanwala road, Rs 300.25 lakh for the improvement of road from Tajewala to Headwork, Rs 822.17 lakh for the improvement and widening of Jagadhri-Bari-Pabni road, Rs 932.63 lakh for the Buria-Khadri-Deodhar road, Rs 479.12 lakh for the Jagadhri-Buria-Deodhar road and Rs 90.58 lakh for the widening of Yamunanagar bypass to Ratauli road. 
In Ambala district, Rs 64.95 lakh has been approved for the improvement of link road from Ambala-Baraula to Tharwa, whereas Rs 103.66 lakh has been approved for the improvement of Bara to Babaheri road, Rs 61.48 lakh for the improvement of link road from Ambala Cantt to Bara to Tharwa road, Rs 57.18 lakh for the improvement of Dhanauri to Chorpur road, Rs 125.92 lakh for the improvement of Dakheri to Chudiyali road, Rs 34.50 lakh for the improvement of link road from MSN road to Jagouli to Sainipura, Rs 44.86 lakh for the improvement of link road from Ambala-Hisar to Muzaffia, Rs 84.21 lakh for the improvement of road from Jansua to Punjab border, Rs 84.34 lakh for the improvement of road from Kalwar to Punjab border, Rs 53.87 lakh for the improvement of Jaitpura to Chhapra road, Rs 127.06 lakh for the improvement of road from Malaur to Tiwana border, Rs 104.66 lakh for the improvement of road from Kurchanpur to Punjab border, Rs 279.76 lakh for the improvement of Bhurangpur to Khanna Majra road and Rs 74.11 lakh for the improvement of Ambala-Hisar link road to Ballana to Punjab border, he added. 
 

Bhiwani :
Around 200 Dalit families converted to Buddhism and vowed against voting for the BJP, alleging that they had been facing social boycott for the past over a year in Bhatla village of the district.

The families said they had embraced Buddhism “as they had no other way to escape social boycott and atrocities at the hands of upper caste families in the village”.

Buddhist priests from Yamunanagar and Ballabgarh performed the formalities to covert the families to Buddhism at a ceremony held in Ravidass Temple of the village.
Dalit activist Rajat Kalsan said out of around 500 families, 300 families had converted today.

The state’s investigation department, however, stated that about 160 families had converted in the village.

The row between Dalits and upper caste communities dates back to June 15, 2017, when upper caste youths had allegedly assaulted Dalit youths, who were drawing water as per their turn from a hand pump.

On June 16, the Punjab and Haryana appointed Court Commissioner Additional Advocate General Deepak Balyan visited the village to interact with the Dalit families.

In his report, he had mentioned that a dispute over a trivial issue of drawing water had occurred between two groups of youths which took caste colour due to instigation by some vested interests.

Bhiwani :
Grappler Vinesh Phogat has lived up to the expectations of her family by winning the gold medal in the 50-kg freestyle category in the Asian Games.

Her family now wants her to shine at the next Olympics. “Vinesh is in full flow. She will win gold in the Olympics,” her mother Prem Lata said, her voice choking.

She credited Vinesh’s success to her uncle Mahavir Phogat, who trained her along with Geeta and Babita.

“Like her cousin sisters, she has proved to be a true disciple of Mahavir Phogat. She has nerves of steel and a strong willpower. The injury that threatened her career in the Rio Olympics failed to dishearten her and as has emerged stronger after the incident,” she said.

Her brother, Harvinder Singh, said Vinesh had regained her form. “With her current form and determination, I am sure that she will win the first gold in wrestling for the country in the next Olympics,” he added.

Next, Bajrang’s parents hope for Olympic gold

Sonepat :
Wrestler Bajrang Punia’s parents want his son to win an Olympic gold now. “I am proud of my son,” said his father Balwan.

After the news of Bajrang’s spread, there was a steady stream of visitors to his home in Model Town here. Among the visitors were Bajrang’s fellow wresters from the SAI’s centre and Yogeshwar Dutt’s academy.

Bajrang’s family had shifted base from Jhajjar to Sonepat as he used to train at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre.

Bajrang would be given a warm welcome on his return, said wrestlers Ram Karan, Randhir Malik, Bijender and Bani Singh.

Khattar all praise

Chandigarh : Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has congratulated Asian Games medallits Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Lakshay Sheoran. “Vinesh Phogat’s win will encourage other girls in the state. She has brought laurels to the country and the state,” he said. The CM He wished all medallists success in their future endeavours. 

Night-long party

There were night-long celebrations at Yogeshwar Dutt’s academy in Bhainswal Kalan village. Young wrestlers of the academy celebrated Bajrang’s win by distributing sweets and dancing on the beats of DJ music.