Agitating Jats threaten to block highways to Delhi on March 20

NEW DELHI: Demanding quota in education and jobs, thousands of Jats from northern states including Haryana on Thursday gathered at the Jantar Mantar here and threatened to block major highways leading to the national capital.

They said they would also stage a gherao of the Parliament building during their ‘Delhi Kooch’ (march to Delhi).

Accusing the Bjp-led governments at the Centre and Haryana of being “insensitive” to their demand of reservation under OBC category, president of Akhil Bhartiya Jat Arakashan Sangharsh Samiti Yashpal Malik said that it was necessary to take a “big decision to wake the government up from its slumber”.

“On March 20, all the Jats riding their tractors and small vehicles and carrying at least 10-day ration will march towards Delhi on the highways from the neighbouring states,” he said. If stopped by the police during their ‘Delhi Kooch’, the Jats would lay siege and block all the major highways leading to the national capital.

The Jats will camp at the borders of Delhi, and later hold a gherao of the Parliament, Malik said.

Pramod, a protester from Jhajjhar in Haryana said, “My uncle Ramchadra Fauji was killed on 21 February 2016. We want the release of those who are still behind bars.”

Another protester, Jagbeer Sing from Hisar in Haryana said, “We are not going to pay our loans, electricity and water bills until our demands are met.”

Thousands of Jats from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttarakhand and also from the city, in their vehicles, marched towards the Jantar Mantar for ‘Jat Nyay Dharna’, disrupting traffic in New Delhi area and border points.

The dharna, led by Malik and other Sangharsh Samiti leaders, culminated in a march towards Parliament which forced the Delhi Traffic Police to cordon off Parliament Street.

Heavy traffic was witnessed on several roads including Ashoka Road.

The Sangharsh Samiti leaders also submitted their sevenpoint charter of demands at the offices of the President and the Prime Minister.

Later, the protesters courted arrest at the Parliament Street police station and insisted that the numbers of those arrested be given in writing.

NEW DELHI: Massive traffic jams were reported from various roads of the city due to the Jat agitation that took place at Jantar Mantar on Thursday. Heavy vehicular movement was experienced by those travelling in Central, South and New Delhi areas. Roads connecting Delhi and NCR reported massive snarls as motorists were seen struck up in queues.

NH-24, Delhi-agra highway, National Highway 1, Connaught Place, ITO and New Delhi showed slow movement of traffic as well.

According to Delhi Traffic Police, almost 4,000 cops were deployed to manage traffic in the national Capital.

Congestions were reported from locations bordering the adjoining states like Haryana and Rajasthan and UP due to heavy vehicular movements. Even after afternoon, several tractors, trolleys and cars were seen stuffing in from the Jatdominated states into Delhi. Several supporters were also seen using motorbikes to come to the protest site.

Despite heavy police deployment, traffic jam was seen and commuters faced difficulty in reaching their offices. Trolleys and tractors packed with supporters were seen on Delhi roads which led to chaos mostly from 10 am to 6 pm. Some protestors also used nearby Metro stations for commutation.

“I have to reach home early today (Thursday) but it seems it would not be possible as major roads around the city are flooded with protesters,” said Manish, a sales executive who has his office in New Delhi area.

Thousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar demanding reservation and jobs for kins of those killed in last year’s Jat quota stir.