Rail and road traffic was disrupted in Rohtak-Jhajjar region on Tuesday as the Jats intensified their protest demanding OBC status even as Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar appealed to them to suspend their protest and invited them for talks on Wednesday.
The protesters have been staging protest demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category.
Like on Monday, the members of the community blocked the highways and other roads in Rohtak-Jhajjar region and protests were also staged at some places in Sonipat district.
The protesters blocked the NH-10 passing through Sampla town in Rohtak district.
Apprehending law and order trouble during Jat agitation, additional police force has been sent to sites where the protesters had blocked highways and were squatting on rail tracks.
In the wake of the Jat stir, the state government has sought from the Centre deployment of Rapid Action Force and BSF, official sources said.
Rail traffic on the Rohtak-Delhi section was also affected, officials said, adding that many trains had been cancelled or diverted through alternative routes.
The agitating Jats had also blocked many roads leading to Delhi, with protesters squatting and even placing truck/bus tyres, tree branches and other articles on the roads.
“The Chief Minister has invited various factions who are spearheading the Jat agitation and others including Khap leaders who are connected with the stir for talks at his residence here tomorrow,” Finance Minister, Capt Abhimanyu said.
Abhimanyu, a prominent Jat leader himself, said the BJP Government was all for talks with the Jat leaders with an “open mind”.
Despite Khattar’s appeal to the protesters to clear the blockade and end protest, the agitating Jats said they want government to take concrete steps to fulfil their demand.
“We do not want mere hollow promises and false assurances. We want the government to come out with a concrete action plan,” a Jat protester in Ismaila village in Rohtak district said.
“I was proceeding from Ludhiana to Delhi via Rohtak with LPG cylinders, but I have been stranded for the past two days now. My truck is carrying heavy load which had to be delivered urgently, but there is no option,” rued Shyam Singh, a truck driver.
Mr Abhimanyu said “In a democratic set up, any issue can be amicably resolved with talks and dialogue.”
The Supreme Court had in March 2015 quashed the decision of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre to provide reservation to Jats under OBC category.
Meanwhile, All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) headed by Yashpal Malik decided to start its agitation from February 17 instead of February 21 to demand reservation to the Jats.
A decision to this effect was taken at a state-level meeting of Samiti held at village Mayyar in Hisar under the chairmanship of Mohinder Singh Poonia on Tuesday.
The Jats will hold dharna and a demonstration near Mayyar rail track on Hisar-Bhiwani rail line.
Jat leaders in the meeting alleged that some people with vested interest are spreading confusion by saying that Jat community was divided over the issue.
On February 9, the state government had formed a four-member committee comprising Chief Secretary D S Dhesi, Principal Secretary, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes T C Gupta, Principal Secretary (Industries) Devender Singh and a representative from the office of the Haryana Advocate General to examine the issue in detail. - PTI
Rail and road traffic was disrupted in Rohtak-Jhajjar region
