Taking their quota stir to the national Capital, several thousand Jats from various States protested at the Jantar Mantar on Thursday, pressing for various demands including reservation in jobs and educational institutions.
Agitators from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Punjab assembled at Jantar Mantar to protest against the BJP led Central and Haryana Government.
“Jat Nyay Dharna is being held at Jantar Mantar to seek justice for the community members in Haryana and highlight our demands,” said Yashpal Malik, president of Akhil Bhartiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (ABJASS) while talking to the mediapersons.
Malik, whose ABJASS is spearheading the Jat dharnas in Haryana said, “We have come here to protest against the insensitivity which the Manohar lal Khattar Government in Haryana has shown to our demands.”
He said that the Jat community is prepared for a long drawn battle and that essential supplies are likely to be affected in the national Capital.
The Jat leaders threatened to block roads and cut off supply of essential commodities, including milk and vegetables, to Delhi if their demands are not met.
"It is for the Government to come out with a solution, but the kind of attitude the Haryana Government has shown, we don't feel it wants a solution," alleged Malik.
The community has announced to launch a massive campaign on March 20.
Jats from across the country will return to Delhi on March 20 with their tractors and cattle to intensify their demonstration, said Yashpal Malik.
The protests in Haryana have so far remained peaceful. More people are joining the dharnas each passing day as the agitation entered its 33rd day in the State on Thursday, he added.
Besides seeking quota in education and Government jobs under Other Backward Classes category, the demands of the Jats include release of those jailed during last year’s agitation, withdrawal of cases slapped during the protest and Government jobs for the kin of those killed and injured while taking part in the stir.
In a Jat stir last year in February, as many as 31 people were killed and property worth crores of rupees was damaged in Haryana.
Notably, the deadlock over the demands of Jat agitators has remained unresolved despite two rounds of talks between State Government’s appointed officers committee and Jat leadership during last month.
After the Jat leaders had refused to hold parleys with the Haryana Government’s appointed officers’ committee, the Chief Minister Manohar lal had a day before proposed to constitute another committee comprising members of opposition and had said that the government is open to hold further talks with the Jat protesters to resolve their issues.