Sunday, 21 February 2016

News - JAT Reservation stir takes violent turn

Government bows to Jats' demands, bill to be placed in Haryana Assembly



Concerned over Jat quota stir which claimed 12 lives and left many injured, Haryana government on Sunday has decided to bring a bill in the next Assembly session to grant OBC status to Jats.
Speaking to the reporters, BJP's Haryana in-charge Anil Jain said, "A meeting between Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Jat leaders and other union ministers was held. It was decided that a Bill for granting OBC status to Jats will be introduced in the upcoming Assembly session of the Haryana Assembly."

Haryana government on Sunday decided to bring a bill in the next Assembly session to grant OBC status to Jats.

The high-level meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan.
"We took stock of the situation in Haryana, as violence and arson spread to more areas. It was decided that reservation for Jat community in Haryana will be given in this Assembly session," Baliyan said.
Soon after the meeting with Union Home Minister, Jat Sangharsh Samiti leader Jaipal Singh Sangwan appeals protestors for end agitation in Haryana announcing that the government has agreed to fulfill their quota demands.
Haryana agriculture minister OP Dhankar said, "Jat community leaders have been assured that reservation will be given under Special Backward Classes category."
A high-level committee headed by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu was formed to look into the demand of the Jat community for reservation in central government jobs.
So far, 12 persons have been killed and about 150 injured during the ongoing Jat stir. Incidents of violence and arson continued in Haryana with Jat protesters setting on fire an ATM and records of a cooperative bank in Bhiwani district even as the Army staged flag marches in tense areas.
As violence and arson spread to several parts of Haryana state, the state government sought additional companies of Central Reserve Police Force and more columns of Army to be deployed in the state to control the agitation.
Haryana Additional Chief Secretary, Home, PK Das, said, "Situation is volatile. Curfew has also been imposed in Kaithal city. One more person killed on Sunday, total death toll reached 12."
Curfew remained in force in Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Hisar, Hansi, Sonipat and Gohana towns of Sonipat district.
Road and rail traffic through Haryana and destined for neighboring states, including Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Chandigarh remained disrupted with authorities cancelling bus and train services on most routes in the wake of the blockades.
Nearly 60 percent of water supply to Delhi was also badly affected due to the quota stir, prompting the government to rationalise water supply and approach the Supreme Court for help.
Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra had said that the Jat protesters damaged the Munak canal gates leading to shortage of water in the national capital.

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