Jat quota agitation continues on low key note, draws lukewarm response

Jat leaders owing allegiance to All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti (AIJASS), held dharnas at various places in the state for the second day today but on a low-key note and drawing lukewarm response. No untoward incident was reported from any part of state today, officials said. Jat leaders held dharnas at Rohtak, Hisar, Jind and Sonipat districts today. But like yesterday, in many districts, no protests were held by Jat community members today as well.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has expressed satisfaction over the peaceful protest by the Jat community members, saying that the state government had appealed to them for the same.

Talking to reporters in Panchkula today on the sidelines of a function, Khattar thanked the people of the state and urged them to maintain peace.

Nearly 20,000 security personnel from central and state forces are keeping a close vigil across the state, including on national highways and railway tracks which the protesters had blocked for several days in February.

Fifty-five companies of paramilitary personnel drawn from CRPF, ITBP and BSF have been deployed in sensitive districts in the state, Haryana’s Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas said.

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 yesterday 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 wait and watch for the outcome of the case before the courts.

“This time we decided that it is not right time to hold dharnas. We talked to government, we gave them time. The case is already before the High Court. We should not unnecessarily raise suspicion on the intent of the Government, which has assured us that even though the reservation Bill has been challenged, but it will put in its best legal efforts to defend the same,” Sube Singh Samain, spokesperson of the Sarv Khap Jat Panchayat, told reporters in Rohtak.

This time Yashpal Malik led AIJASS has given the call for the fresh round of protest.