To mount pressure on BJP led Haryana Government to announce reservation for the Jat community under the OBC category, Jat protestors on Monday blocked railway tracks, roads and a national highway in Haryana's Rohtak district.
The protest coincided with the Chief Minister’s visit to Rohtak for the oath ceremony of newly elected sarpanches.
The Jat protestors blocked Delhi- Rohtak railway track and stopped two local trains in Ismaila village to further intensify their protest demanding reservation under the other backward class (OBC) category. National highway-10 (NH-10) was also blocked in Sampla town, 25 km from Rohtak.
As per the information, while elder Jats protested peacefully, many youths denied cooperating with police and said they were planning to block the entire state on Monday. They fenced all entry/exit points to Rohtak and did not even allow school buses to pass.
The protests continued till late evening across the state as Jats blocked Rohtak-Sonepat road as well as roads in Bahadurgarh sub division after State Government’s promises on the issue failed to appease them. Protesters blocked roads near Dabauda, Mandhothi and Silothi villages under Bahadurgarh subdivision.
The road traffic had to be diverted by police as people travelling by road and on trains had to face harassment due to the blockade.
The agitation by a section of the Jat community resumed on Monday, just a day after a faction of All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) announced on Sunday that it was ending its agitation which was taking place since Friday in Mayar village of Hisar district.
The Jat Samiti had on Sunday announced ending its agitation for reservation after meetings with Haryana's Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar at Hansi town in Hisar district late on Saturday.
The Jat community had been squatting on the railway track at Mayar village in Hisar district since Friday.
Dhankar had assured the Jat leadership that the community will get reservation under the OBC category in Haryana if the Centre gave it to the community in nine other states where the Jat community is present.
Jat leaders had called off the protest after they held talks with Agriculture Minister, but several protesters remained unsatisfied with the outcome and continued their agitation.
Jat leader Hawa Singh Sangwan while talking to the mediapersons on Monday said that Jats would resume their protest if the BJP failed to keep its word.
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.
Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal while talking to the mediapersons at Rohtak said that the 4-member committee constituted by the State Government on the issue of reservation being demanded by the Jats, would submit its report by March 31.
The Chief Minister said that the Government would take action on the basis of the report of the committee headed by Chief Secretary. The committee was constituted after consultation with all concerned and it would submit its report after considering all aspects concerning the Central and State Governments, law and decisions of the judiciary.