Protesting Jats in Haryana on Tuesday got support from Desh khap (caste council) of Uttar Pradesh over their demands for reservations in Government jobs and educational institutes for the community.
Yashpal Malik, the president of the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS), which is spearheading the protest, said, "Besides Desh khap, the people from Baraut and Bagpath in UP have also announced their support to the agitation going on in Haryana."
He claimed that the Jats from Delhi, Himachal Pardesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pardesh have also announced their support to the community in Haryana.
Desh khap president Surinder Singh, after a meeting with Malik, announced to join protests in Haryana
and Delhi. Singh charged BJP workers of Haryana with conspiring to create a wedge between the Jats and the non-Jats in the State.
Desh khap has presence in 84 villages of western UP, Singh claimed, adding on March 2 a massive protest will be held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi over the issue.
In a related development, Haryana Finance Minister Abhimanyu, who is also a Jat, has invited the protesters for a talk.
Malik, meanwhile, reaffirmed that tomorrow onwards, the protesters will not cooperate with the Government and not pay electricity and water bills and also they instalment of loans that they owe to the Government.
Jats from Delhi and UP will protest in Delhi on March 2 and submit a memorandum on the quota issue to the President, he said, adding they also plan to gherao Parliament, the date for which will be announced during the Delhi demonstration.
Meanwhile, the paramilitary forces are also keeping a vigil at many places, officials said.
Besides seeking quota in education and Government jobs under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) 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.