Standoff continues as Jats say Delhi protest, Parliament gherao plan on

Government hatched a conspiracy against us. Cancellation of meeting with the CM has left us with no alternative but to continue stir. I was not aware of talks with Jat leaders. I think Malik unilaterally announced the meeting . But I am always available for them.

ROHTAK/CHANDIGARH:The Jat protesters will go ahead with their plan to gherao Parliament and choke the national capital with tractor-trailers on March 20.

Announcing this after his talks with the state government failed to break the ongoing impasse, All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) leader Yashpal Malik on Friday accused the government of hatching a conspiracy to weaken and end the stir.

Malik’s outburst came on a day of fast-paced events during which he was “scheduled to hold final talks” with Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and address a joint press conference.

But Khattar, his education minister Ram Bilas Sharma and Malik held separate press conferences, making contradictory claims.

Though both Sharma and Malik had made claims of substantial progress after their fourhour-long discussion at Panipat a day ago, the latter had talked about further talks with Khattar in Delhi on Friday on “unresolved” demands.

When Khattar did not show up for the meeting, Malik and his supporter refused to carry on talks with Sharma and others, insisting on the CM’s presence. While Sharma claimed that a breakthrough had been achieved, Malik reached Rohtak, the epicentre of the quota protests, and held a press conference, hitting out at the state government. Khattar, who also addressed reporters in Chandigarh, said he was not aware of any talks scheduled between him and the Jat leaders. “I think Malik unilaterally announced that the meeting was going to be held with me. But I am always available. They can meet and talk to me anytime,” he said.