The looming threat of renewed quota agitation by Jats in Haryana was averted today with the community leaders announcing that no protest will be held till April 3 if the state government gets the reservation bill passed in Assembly during the ongoing session that ends on March 31.
The announcement was made by All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti President Yashpal Malik here after talks with Haryana Chief Secretary D S Dhesi and DGP Yashpal Singhal, easing the situation in the state which was on the edge because of the threat of agitation in view of widespread violence during the first phase of the stir last month.
"We have given time to Haryana government to bring and pass the Jat reservation Bill by March 31 (when the ongoing Budget session ends)," Malik told reporters here.
"If the government does not pass the reservation Bill by March 31, then we shall chalk out our next course of action in our meeting on April 3 to be held in Delhi," he said.
Replying to questions, he said "there will be no strike or agitation before April 3... I appeal to other brethren of the community also not to take any decision about agitation or strike in the state till April 3."
He asserted, "the bill has to be brought in this session and passed. Our people should be involved in its drafting...If the bill is not passed, then will decide the next course of action on April 3."
Malik expressed satisfaction over the talks held with the officials of Haryana government to chalk out a "workable solution".
Prior to the meeting, the state was bracing for the renewed agitation as per the threat issued by the Jat leaders. The government had imposed prohibitory orders and suspended mobile internet services at many places as paramilitary forces along with police maintained tight vigil.
Jats want reservation in BC (Backward Class) category and that the community is getting ready for agitation for quota in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jammu & Kashmir, Malik said.
"During the meeting, we were assured on behalf of Haryana CM that Bill will be passed in the ongoing budget session in the state," the Jat leader said.
However, he said the Jat leaders were not shown any draft of the Bill which they want to check.
On the issue of withdrawal of the cases, Malik said they were assured that if any false cases was registered against Jats, they would be withdrawn.
"We were also assured that we can file complaint against any officer for his role duirng Jat agitation to SSP or DC," he said.
"The main talking point in this meeting was reservation and under which category we want it... Other than this, we had 4 to 5 very important demands, like all arrests taking place in Jhajjar, Sonipat and whole of Haryana should be stopped, proper investigation should be held and local people should be part of it."
When the last agitation got over, the government had promised to pay Rs 10 lakh for family and kin of the dead.
"We asked the government to do what they promised. We want unity and brotherhood among the youth of the state, khaps, and all 36 castes and groups and want to maintain peace and calm in the state," Malik said.
