Tension in Hisar as Jats protest for quotas

Hundreds of Jat community members have been squatting on the Hisar-Rewari railway line here since Monday, blocking the crucial stretch. Various passenger trains had to be cancelled or diverted to alternate routes by the railway authorities.

The Jats were responding to a call by the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti, which is demanding reservations and inclusion in the OBC (other backward classes) category. They had given a 48-hour ultimatum to the Haryana government to meet their demands that expires Tuesday afternoon.

"We have formulated a special committee to decide our further course of action. So far we have not got any satisfactory reply from Haryana government and now we would certainly intensify our campaign," Hawa Singh Sangwan, state president of the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, said here Tuesday.

He added: "Though we do not want to harass the public, we are left with no option to make our voice heard. We would block various rail tracks and important national highways in Hisar district. The chief minister said he has forwarded our demand to centre but this is not enough for us."

In the meantime, Haryana police and GRP (government railway police) have deployed heavy forces in this district to tackle any kind of emergency situation.

"We are observing the situation and trying to convince Jat protestors to end their agitation. Police have made sufficient security arrangements and we will not allow anyone to take law into hands," said a Haryana police official here Tuesday.

Jats, who are the major vote bank in Haryana, have been protesting for reservations. A two-day curfew was imposed in Hisar in September last year, after large scale violence and arson at Mayyar village here by members of the Jat community.