Protesting Jats decide to take quota fight to Delhi
NONCOOPERATION Jat leader announces ‘big protest’ in Delhi on March 2, urges dairy owners in Haryana to stop supply of milk to the capital on March 1 as a symbolic protest
ROHTAK/HISAR: Upping the ante, the protesting Jats on Sunday decided to take their fight for reservation, withdrawal of police cases and other demands to Delhi.
All India Jat Aarakashan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) chief Yashpal Malik announced that a ‘big protest’ would be held in the national capital on March 2 to be followed by gherao of Parliament after Holi to mount pressure on the Centre and the state government in Haryana to meet their demands. “The government is advised to arrange for as much security as it can. It will be the biggest protest in the history,” he said, adding that Jats from UP and Haryana will arrive only on tractor-trolleys and bullock carts for protest in Delhi.
Malik, who outlined the protesters’ strategy at a dharna in Jassia village of Rohtak, urged his supporters to stop paying water and electricity bills, and repayment of loans to the government agencies from March to press for their demands. To add to the troubles of Delhi, he also urged dairy owners in Haryana to stop supply of milk to Delhi on March 1 as a symbolic protest.
“We are also increasing the number of dharnas (sit-ins) from 20 to 30 from March 1. Dharnas will be organised in Bhiwani, Kaithal, Jind, Kurukshetra etc. In Rohtak, Sonepat and Jhajjar, protests will continue at one spot only and will remain the epicentres. The protests will continue till all our demands are met,” he said. The protest strategy was decided by Malik and two representatives each from all 20 dharna spots two days ago. AIJASS is spearheading the three-week-long stir in the state.
The Jat leader also asked all MLAs to extend support to Jat dharnas by February 27, or face ire of the community during elections. He said the Jat community will commemorate every third Sunday of the year as Balidaan Divas and continue observing it forever. Earlier, the Rohtak-Gohana-Panipat national highway (NH 71 A) remained clogged on Sunday afternoon as lakhs of supporters thronged the Jassia village to observe “Balidan Diwas” (martyrdom day) in the memory of those killed in the Jat stir last year.
A large number of supporters including women could be seen making a bee line since morning coming in a variety of vehicles including tractor trolleys and many even on foot to the dharna site, parking their vehicles up to several kilometres from the protest site. A large number of motorists could be seen stuck up on the stretch of the highway despite repeated advisories of the state government since Saturday for avoiding the road and opting for alternative routes.
However, traffic movement remained smooth on most other highways passing through the state. At village Ramayan in district Hisar too, where AIJASS had started Balidan Divas with Hawan-Yajna, hundreds of supporters including women had reached the site shouting proquota slogans.
Heavy police force had been deployed near the venue to maintain law and order situation near the railway lines which were about 100 m away and National Highway No 9, which was about 500 m away. However, tension was briefly witnessed when Jat youths tried to cross the railway lines at the time when a train was speeding by. Sub divisional magistrate Ashok Bansal reached out to them and dissuaded them from crossing the railway lines while train was approaching.