CHANDIGARH: The ongoing Jat quota agitation in Haryana, continues with no untoward incidents reported anywhere. As elaborate security arrangements were made, Jats held dharnas across the state. The fresh stir was called by several Jat outfits, especially those owing allegiance to All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, headed by Yashpal Malik. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattas said "everyone in a democracy has the right to demonstrate peacefully without impairing law and order."
"We had a meeting with one group of Jat leaders recently where the government accepted their demand to give jobs to the next of kin of those who had lost their lives in the agitation last year. Process has been initiated for the same," he said. Paramilitary forces have been called out in sensitive areas in Haryana, while heavy police force has been deployed to maintain strict vigil. Similar protests last year had led to 30 deaths and widespread destruction of property. Officials said Haryana has been kept on high alert this time.
The worst affected areas were Rohtak, Sonipat, and Jhajjar last time. Other than the demand for their quota, the agitators are also demanding release of Jat youths who were arrested and put behind bars last year, withdrawal of cases registered during last year's agitation and grant of government jobs to the kin of those killed and injured in the agitation last year.
