The Jat community in Haryana on Friday began indefinite agitation to press their demand of reservation for Jats in Government jobs and educational institutions.
Even as assurance was given by Chief Minister Manohar lal to look into the issue of Jat reservation, the Jat leaders under the banner of Akhil Bharatiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti began their indefinite dharna at Mayyar village in Hisar by blocking Hisar-Bhiwani rail track.
Jat leader Hawa Singh Sangwan along with other members of Samiti blocked the Hisar-Bhiwani rail track affecting rail traffic since Friday late afternoon. Earlier, a rally was also held at Mayyar village demanding reservation for Jats in Haryana.
Mayyar village of Hisar is an epicentre of the Jat agitation. In 2009, a 19 years old Sunil Sheoran had fallen prey to strayed bullet during the clashes between police and agitating Jats in Mayyar. After this, another round of agitations was held in the following years when Jats had laid siege on railway tracks.
While a group of Jats had earlier this week announced to postpone all their proposed agitations till March 31 following a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar, another Jat group under Sangwan had announced to organize protest rally at Mayyar village on Friday to demand reservation for Jats.
Hawa Singh Sangwan while talking to the mediapersons demanded that the State Government should give an assurance to give reservation to Jats only then the agitation will be withdrawn.
“We have very simple demands. We need an assurance from Haryana ministers or government to help us in getting the quota on the lines of Uttar Pradesh. We need concrete assurance with deadline else we shall have an indefinite strike,” he said.
AK Rao, IG Hisar range told mediapersons that the situation is under control. The state Police will not allow blockade on national or state highway as well damage to public property. We have exercised maximum restraint and would continue to do so as the protestors are residents of Haryana, he said.
Haryana's Jat community is fighting for reservations for the past several years. The community forms nearly 30 percent of the state's electorate. While 25 percent of the Jats in Haryana are Hindus, 4 percent consists of the Sikhs and one percent are Muslims, as per the information.