To the rest of India the Jat agitation is virtually over, but not for Haryana. What started as a quota stir degenerated into a caste war and today the state, which boasted of 36 biradaris (communities) living in harmony, is facing its worst social crisis. During the stir, Jats targeted non-Jat houses and shops. Shops and establishments that were burnt could be identified by caste. There were many instances of Jats shielding other community members from harm, but what seems embedded in public memory is caste violence. Today, the boot is on the other foot and the Jats are wary of a backlash. On one side are the Jats with the Punjabis, Sainis and Dalits on the other side. It is essentially the Jats versus the remaining 35 biradaris. An air of suspicion hangs heavily over the State. Many blame the style of politics adopted by parties which tend to identify more with caste than with issues. The struggle to seize leadership of communities often overrides common sense. The Jats themselves feel bad about the turn in the
agitation and now wonder about their job status. This is why
the second leg of the quota agitation fizzled out even before
it started. Clearly, Haryana is licking its wounds. It does not
know how to dissolve the hatred and restore normalcy.
