Caste protests leave millions without water

Violent demonstrations over access to jobs and university places cut off supplies to Indian capital

MILLIONS of people in Delhi were bracing for water shortages yesterday after caste-based protests that have left 12 dead in the neighbouring state of Haryana cut off supplies.

Thousands of members of the Jat caste in Haryana blocked roads, railways and a major canal leading to the Indian capital, a city of more than 16 million people, in an effort to further their demands for better access to government jobs and university places.

The Jats, who make up around a quarter of Haryana’s population of 26 million people, are campaigning to be recognised as a marginalised caste under India’s reservation system, which sets aside jobs and education quotas for lower castes.

Despite being a traditionally landed and politically influential group, the Jats claim they are struggling to tackle youth unemployment as the jobs are being set aside for lower-caste Indians.

Meanwhile, emergency water rationing measures were put in place in Delhi. “Have directed all schools to be closed tomorrow due to water crisis. No water available now. Still no hope to get it,” Manish Sisodia, Delhi’s deputy chief minister, wrote on Twitter.

Protesters forcibly closed the inlet gates to the Munak Canal, one of Delhi’s main water sources.

The capital’s piped water supply has dropped as much as 70 per cent. All but the east of the city and key government buildings were expected to experience outages from last night. A team of paramilitaries and technical staff have been dispatched to the closed inlet.

Last night, Jat leaders called on protesters to end the agitation, after the ruling BJP pledged to address their demands. However, experts warned that it would take up to 24 hours for the restoration of normal supplies.

The previous Indian government, led by the Congress party, attempted to grant the Jats marginalised status in 2014 after years of intense lobbying.

But the Supreme Court overruled the move the following year after failing to find any statistical evidence that the community was marginalised.

Protests took a violent turn on Friday when the home of the state’s finance minister was attacked by a mob in Rohtak. At least 150 people have been injured, and 12 killed, after security forces resorted to firing on protesters.

Curfews are in place in nine towns, while tourists in western India have been left stranded with up to 1,000 trains cancelled and the roads blocked.

‘Have directed all schools to be closed due to water crisis. No water available now. Still no hope to get it.’