Rail and road traffic was again affected in Rohtak-Jhajjar region today as the Jats intensified their ongoing protest demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category.
The members of Jat coommunity blocked the highways and other roads in Rohtak-Jhajjar region and also extended their protest to Sonipat and other parts.
The protesters had earlier blocked the NH-10 passing through Sampla town in Rohtak district.
Rail traffic on the Rohtak-Delhi section has taken a hit in the wake of agitation with many trains diverted, a railways official said today.
Agitating Jats said they want the government to take concrete steps to fulfill their demand.
"We do not want hollow promises and false assurances. We want the government to come out with a concret action plan," a Jat protester in Ismaila village in Rohtak district said.
Yesterday, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said that the four-member committee constituted by his government on the reservation issue demanded by the Jats in government jobs, would submit its report by March 31. He had also appealed to the protesters to clear the blockade and end protest.
On February 9, the state government had formed a 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 party INLD has extended its support to agitating Jats and blamed the BJP government for not being able to address the Jat reservation issue appropriately.
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Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said leaders of political parties who are visiting the spots of Jat reservation dharnas should not politicise the issue.
He said the government has done its job by enacting a law on reservation.
"As the matter is pending before the court, everyone must cooperate so as to get the stay vacated. Government is also working in this direction," he told reporters in Chandigarh.
He urged the protesters to come forward for negotiation.
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Some inflammatory videos on social networking sites on Jat agitation have been identified and blocked by the state's cyber police wing.
Khattar had earlier said the government had accepted the demand of Jats of giving jobs to the next of kin of those who had lost their lives during the agitation last year.
As many as 30 people were killed and property worth crores was damaged at many places in Haryana during last year's Jat stir which had turned violent. Rohtak and some of its neighbouring districts, including Sonipat and Jhajjar, were the worst hit by the violence.
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Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar held a
meeting in Gurugram with ministers and BJP leaders from 10 sensitive districts to review the prevailing situation in view of the Jat quota agitation.
Khattar also apprised them about the measures taken by the state government to grant reservation to the Jat community.
The districts are Jhajjar, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Charkhi-Dadri, Hisar, Jind, Sirsa, Kaithal, Sonipat and Panipat.
Interacting with mediapersons after the meeting, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister O P Dhankar said that the state government was open to talks with Jat leaders and they should put up their demands before the government.
In response to the demands of the Jat community, he said that the state government has no objection in providing financial help and jobs to the family members of those who lost their lives during the agitation last year.
Referring to the demand of withdrawal of cases filed against some Jat community members during last year's agitation, Dhankar said that the state government has withdrawn about 1,500 cases till now and 622 cases are pending.
He said that the BJP government had granted reservation to the Jat community. But it was challenged in the court, he said, adding that advocate Jagdeep Dhankar has been engaged for pursuing the case.
