: The Jat quota agitation continued in various parts of Haryana on Tuesday, with no untoward incident being reported from anywhere in the State.
Like the past two days, no big demonstrations were held on Tuesday, officials said.
In sharp contrast to the first phase of the agitation three months ago which was widespread and violent, there has been lukewarm response this time to the dharnas organised by Jat leaders owing allegiance to All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti (AIJASS) at places such as Rohtak, Hisar, Jind and Sonepat.
The agitation in February had left 30 people dead and widespread destruction of government and private property.
The Manohar Lal Khattar government, which had faced flak over handling of the previous bout of agitation, has ensured heavy deployment of police force along with 55 companies (about 5,500 personnel) of paramilitary personnel drawn from CRPF, ITBP and BSF.
Close vigil is being maintained on national highways and railway tracks which protesters had blocked for several days in February.
Section 144 in force
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 remained in force at sensitive places in eight districts and a round-the-clock control room has been set up in Chandigarh to monitor activities. The police and administration are keeping a close watch on miscreants trying to use social media to spread rumours.
Jat leaders in Jassia village of Rohtak district, the epicentre of violence during the stir, held a dharna as part of the second round of the agitation which started on a tepid note on Sunday with influential Khap panchayats and some Jat factions distancing themselves from the protests.
Haryana’s Sarv Khap Jat Panchayat, which had been at the forefront demanding reservations for Jats in government jobs when the stir was held in February, has this time decided to stay out of the stir, preferring to wait and watch for the outcome of the case.
Extending support
However, a prominent Khap from Bhiwani extended its support to the ongoing Jat stir on Tuesday.
The protesters are demanding quota under the OBC category, withdrawal of cases registered against community members during the previous stir, status of martyrs for those killed and jobs for their next of kin, besides compensation for the injured.
After the Jat agitation in February, which caused lot of death and destruction, the State government had brought laws to provide 10 per cent reservation to Jats and five other communities under a newly carved Backward Classes (C) category.
However, the High Court stayed it, acting on a public interest litigation, after which some Jat groups announced the fresh stir. PTI
A prominent Khap from Bhiwani extended its
support to the stir
on Tuesday
