NEW DELHI: Governments at Centre, Haryana and Delhi heaved sigh of relief as Jats called off their quota agitation scheduled for Monday in Delhi.
The decision of Jat leaders came after a four-hour long meeting with Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and two union ministers Birender Singh and P P Chaudhary who are both Jats.
Keeping in mind the large scale protests on Monday, prohibitory orders had been clamped in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to stop the Jat protesters from entering Delhi. About 24,700 paramilitary personnel had been mobilised to maintain peace. Metro and road transport has been curtailed and several schools have been closed in the national capital.
Emerging out of the meeting on Sunday evening, Haryana CM M L Khattar said, “Both, Centre and state will soon begin the process of giving reservation, following the Delhi High court order.” He also appealed to people in the state to cooperate in maintaining peace and harmony.
The CM was accompanied with All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) chairperson Yashpal Malik.
“Jats are not coming to Delhi. We have called off our agitation and march towards Delhi. The state government has agreed to our demands," Malik said. He added that the community will call off its protest from most of the places in the state, barring few where it will continue with symbolic protests.
Besides quotas, the Jats have been demanding release of people jailed during last year's agitation, withdrawal of cases slapped during the protests and government jobs for the kin of those killed and injured while taking part in the stir. The Jats have been sitting on dharna in various parts of Haryana since January 29.
Union minister for law and justice said that the government will now work according to the law and will undertake a survey and check ground realities so that the decision that we finally take will stand in court. “The reservation process will expedite after appointment of National Commission of Backward Classes (NCBC) chairperson and we want to ensure reservation for the community which is not stuck anywhere due to legal issues".
Earlier, on March 16, a Haryana ministerial panel led by senior minister Ram Bilas Sharma had held talks with the Jats in Panipat. The minister had said that an agreement had been reached with the community and the deadlock could end soon.