A Jat outfit in Haryana on Sunday called off its two-day quota stir saying that the State Government has given a conditional assurance on providing reservation to the community under the OBC category.
The agitation was called off after a delegation of Jat leaders under the banner of Akhil Bharatiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti met state Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar late Saturday night in Hansi.
“The Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar has assured us that the Jat community will get the OBC benefit in Haryana if it is given to Jats in other states by the central government,” said Hawa Singh Sangwan, leader of Akhil Bharatiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti while talking to the mediapersons.
He said that the Samiti members met the minister at Hansi town in Hisar district on Saturday and got the assurance following which they decided to call off their agitation.
The Jat outfit had been protesting since Friday, demanding reservation under the OBC category. They had blocked railway track near Mayyar village here which led to disruption in rail services on Hisar-Bhiwani rail track.
The members of the delegation led by Sangwan on Sunday visited the protest site in the village and told the agitators that the Minister had given an assurance. They then announced lifting of the blockade.
Sangwan said his outfit is satisfied with the talks with Dhankar even as some protesters voiced disagreement.
Meanwhile, a faction of All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti led by Yashpal Malik has announced that it would start an agitation from February 21 to demand reservation for the community in central and state government jobs.
The venue is not decided yet, said Ram Bhagat Malik, spokesman of the Sangharsh Samiti.
Notably, the Chief Minister Manohar lal had on February 9 announced to constitute a four-member committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary to prepare outline for future action after studying all aspects related to reservation to special backward classes. The committee would submit its report by March 31.
The decision to constitute the Committee was taken following Chief Minister’s meeting with the representatives of Sarva Khap Jat including Dharampal Chhaut, Nafe Singh Nain. These Jat leaders had then announced to postpone their proposed ‘bandh’ and ‘rasta-roko’ agitation on February 15 across the state till March 31.
The previous Bhupinder Singh Hooda led Haryana Government had in 2013 accorded special backward class status to Jats, however, the decision was stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2015.