State’s BJP government urged to meet demands by Thursday.
State’s BJP government urged to meet demands by Thursday.
Weeks after their agitation for quotas in jobs and education plunged Haryana into a welter of violence that left at least 30 people dead, Jat leaders have threatened to resume their protests if the state’s BJP government does not meet their demands by Thursday, March 17.
The leaders of the influential Jat community are seeking 10 per cent quotas, besides withdrawal of FIRs registered against protesters, compensation to those killed during the stir and action against BJP MP from Kurukshetra Raj Kumar Saini for his anti-Jat quota stand.
“On March 17, we will decide the next mode of action on whether to block roads, railway tracks or any other type of agitation,” All India Jat Mahasabha chief Yashpal Malik told PTI over the telephone on Tuesday. He said the state government must bring a Bill in the ongoing Assembly Budget Session to ensure reservation for Jats.
Jat leaders from across the state have decided community members will hit the streets again if the state government fails to act, he said, adding that the dharnas this time will also cover rural areas.
“The state government has time till March 17. So far the government has not responded to any of our demands,” said Akhil Bhartiya Jat Mahasabha president Hawa Singh Sangwan.
Mr Malik said the “government is keen to crush members of Jat community even though their protest was peaceful”. He added the government should also control its ministers from issuing statements against the Jat community. He said Jat stir has continued since 2005-06 in 13 states, including UP, Uttarakhand, Delhi, MP, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, in a “peaceful manner”.
