Jat stir fire reaches Delhi, dries up taps

NEW DELHI: The ongoing Jat quota agitation in the neighbouring Haryana reached Delhi on Sunday with protests by community members in several city localities affecting traffic.

Members of the community, who are demanding reservation in government jobs, held protests at many places, including Nangloi, Madhuban Chowk, Narela and Najafgarh.

The protests led to diversion of traffic with several roads leading to neighbouring Haryana having been blocked by the protesters, a senior police officer said.

There also were reports of damage to public property by the protesters, who blocked major state border entry points, including Sindhu border, Nangloi-Bahadurgarh Road, Karna l road, Tikri, Jharoda and Madhuban Chowk in southwest and outer Delhi, creating major traffic snarls which affected many areas in the city. “Several companies of Delhi Police have been deployed in Najafgarh and adjoining areas and we are trying to bring the situation under control,” said a police officer.

“All the major roads are severely affected with Madhuban Chowk having been blocked by the demonstrators. The situation is under control so far,” additional DCP (Outer) Pankaj Kumar Singh said.

Traffic police issued an advisory during the day saying that Delhi-Jaipur highway (NH-8) has been blocked near Dharuhera, district Rewari. However, later in the evening traffic police said that the Highway was open. The advisory also said that NH-I and NH-10 are not likely to be open for next 48 hours.

Jats in Haryana have been agitating for the past few days to press their demand for quotas in jobs and educational institutions. The protests have disrupted normal life in several districts in Haryana, including Rohtak, Jind, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Sonipat and Hisar.

Meanwhile, security forces on Sunday failed to secure the Munak canal, which supplies water to Delhi, in Haryana’s Sonipat district even though one person was killed in firing by the troops, an official said.