The agitation by the Jats demanding reservation under OBC category today affected rail and road traffic in several parts of Haryana prompting Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to announce enhancement of the quota of reservation for Economically Backward Classes in the state from 10 to 20 per cent.
During the day, the protests by the Jats spread from Rohtak-Jhajjar region to Sonipat, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad and Jind districts, with large number of women also joining the protests.
While lawyers joined in the protests at Sonipat, a large number of students held a protest in Rohtak.
The protesters are demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category.
Jat and Khap leaders including Hawa Singh Sangwan, Sudeep Kalkal, Mahender Singh Mor and Santosh Dahiya held a four-hour long meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, in which Finance Minister Abhimanyu, Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar and State BJP President Subhash Barala were also present.
Later, the Chief Minister announced to enhance the quota of reservation in government jobs and admission in educational institutions for Economically Backward Classes in the state from 10 to 20 per cent.
He also announced to enhance the annual income ceiling from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh so that maximum people can get benefit under this category.
The Chief Minister announced this while addressing a meeting of Jat and Khap leaders, an official spokesman said.
Khattar said that in the today's meeting a "broad consensus" was reached between the government and the Jat leaders over the reservation issue.
He also announced that the Committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to study all aspects of the reservations for Special Backward Classes and to suggest the best way forward, would submit its report before the forthcoming budget session of State Assembly next month.
Khattar said the committee would consider all suggestions including that of bringing in an appropriate bill in this regard.
Several Jat leaders had asked the Government to bring a Bill in the State Assembly on the quota issue.
All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti's national president, Yashapal Malik, said the government has given its proposal, "but the people are not that happy. However, its result will be known in a day or two (whether the protests will continue or end)".
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Malik told
The agitating Jats blocked many roads leading to Delhi,
with protesters squatting and placing truck/bus tyres, tree branches and other articles on the roads.
The protesters also blocked the NH-10 passing through Sampla town in Rohtak district.
Announcements were being made in villages asking Jat youths to come out on the roads and fight for their rights.
As Jat agitation spread to other parts of the State, Khap leaders in Bhiwani blocked the Dadri-Jhajjar-Delhi road and burned effigy of Khattar.
Several persons have been booked by the police for causing inconvenience to the general public and others.
Apprehending law and order trouble during Jat agitation, additional police force has been sent to places where protesters blocked highways and were squatting on rail tracks.
Agitating Jats have said that they want the government to come out with a concrete action plan before they can think of ending the protest.
Capt Abhimanyu has said the BJP Government was all for talks with the Jat leaders with an "open mind".
"In a democratic set up, any issue can be amicably resolved with talks and dialogue," he said earlier.
Notably, a four-member committee constituted by the state government on the reservation issue demanded by the Jats in government jobs, would submit its report by March 31.
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.
Opposition parties Congress and INLD blamed the BJP Government for not being able to address the Jat reservation issue appropriately.
The INLD has come out in full support of the agitating Jats who are demanding reservation.
Meanwhile, opposition Congress and ruling BJP today indulged in blame game over Jat stir.
While Health Minister Anil Vij alleged that the Congress had always misled the Jats, State Congress chief Ashok Tanwar said that before coming to power in Haryana, the BJP leaders had made tall promises to the community and was now finding itself in a fix.
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 of the Central government.
