Jat agitation disrupts road, rail traffic in Haryana

 Students of Maharishi Dayanand University (MDU) and some other institutions today came out in support of the Jat agitation, which badly disrupted road and rail traffic even as police booked 1000 protesters for causing inconvenience to the public.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has invited the agitators, who are demanding OBC quota, for talks later in the day.

However, there was no let up in the protests, which have also spread to Sonipat, Bhiwani and Hisar districts with many schools in the affected parts declaring a holiday.

Protests today erupted outside the Maharishi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak with several students raising slogans demanding reservation for the community.

The varsity students were squatting outside the Gate 2 of the University, which also leads to the residence of Haryana's Finance Minister, Capt Abhimanyu.

The blockade put up by the protesters disrupted rail traffic on the Rohtak-Delhi section with many trains cancelled or diverted.

The agitators continued to block the roads from Rohtak to Delhi by placing truck/bus tyres and branches on the roads.

The roads to Sonipat, Jhajjar also remained blocked while those leading to Hisar, Jind and Bhiwani saw disruption.

The protesters also blocked the NH-10 passing through Sampla town in Rohtak district.
The Khap leaders in Bhiwani sealed the Dadri-Jhajjar-Delhi road and burnt an effigy of the Chief Minister.

The police have booked more than 1,000 persons for causing inconvenience to the general public and others.

Apprehending law and order trouble during Jat agitation, additional police force has been sent to sites where the protesters had blocked highways and were squatting on rail tracks.

In view of the agitation, North Western Railway today cancelled six trains and diverted two trains on Rohtak-Delhi section.

The two diverted trains are Sriganganagar-Delhi and Sriganganagar-Howarah, a railway PRO said.

All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti's national president, Yashapal Malik, had yesterday extended support to the protesters.

Agitating Jats have said that they want the government to come out with a concrete action plan before they can think of ending the protest.

Capt Abhimanyu has said the BJP government was all for talks with the Jat leaders with an "open mind".

"In a democratic set up, any issue can be amicably resolved with talks and dialogue," he had said yesterday.

Notably, a four-member committee constituted by the state government on the reservation issue demanded by the Jats in government jobs, would submit its report by March 31.

Khattar had said earlier that the government would take action on the basis of the report of the committee headed by the Chief Secretary.

On February 9, the state government had formed a four-member committee comprising Chief Secretary D S Dhesi, Principal Secretary, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes T C Gupta, Principal Secretary (Industries) Devender Singh and a representative from the office of the Haryana Advocate General to examine the issue in detail.

Opposition parties Congress and INLD have criticised the BJP government over the issue.
INLD has come out in full support of the agitating Jats .

Meanwhile, rail and road traffic on Hisar-Bhiwani route via Hansi remained disrupted as protesters observed a dharna near railway track at Mayyar village.

The activists also blocked the road traffic on Hisar-Hansi road near toll tax plaza in the afternoon affecting the traffic on the route.

Railway authorities cancelled several trains. The Jaipur-Hisar and Rewari-Bathinda trains were cancelled between Hansi and Hisar.

Fazilka-Rewari passenger train terminated at Hisar and remained cancelled between Hisar-Rewari.

According to railway spokesman at Hisar today, Kisan Express, between Delhi and Bathinda, and Haryana Express, between Delhi and Sirsa, remained cancelled.

Haryana Roadways suspended its bus services between Hisar and Delhi today as a precautionary measures.

Several passengers remained stranded on the Hisar bus stand due to suspension without any prior announcement.