Chandigarh : The agitation by the Jats demanding reservation under OBC category on Wednesday affected rail and road traffic in several parts of Haryana prompting Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to announce enhancement of the quota of reservation for Economically Backward Classes in the state from 10 to 20 per cent.
During the day, the protests by the Jats spread from Rohtak-Jhajjar region to Sonipat, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad and Jind districts, with large number of women also joining the protests.
While lawyers joined in the protests at Sonipat, a large number of students held a protest in Rohtak. The protesters are demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category.
Jat and Khap leaders including Hawa Singh Sangwan, Sudeep Kalkal, Mahender Singh Mor and Santosh Dahiya held a four-hour long meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, in which Finance Minister Abhimanyu, Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar and State BJP President Subhash Barala were also present.
Later, the Chief Minister announced to enhance the quota of reservation in government jobs and admission in educational institutions for Economically Backward Classes in the state from 10 to 20 per cent.
He also announced to enhance the annual income ceiling from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh so that maximum people can get benefit under this category.
The Chief Minister announced this while addressing a meeting of Jat and Khap leaders, an official spokesman said.
Khattar said that in the today’s (Wednesday) meeting a “broad consensus” was reached between the government and the Jat leaders over the reservation issue.
He also announced that the Committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to study all aspects of the reservations for Special Backward Classes and to suggest the best way forward, would submit its report before the forthcoming budget session of State Assembly next month. Khattar said the committee would consider all suggestions including that of bringing in an appropriate bill in this regard.
Several Jat leaders had asked the Government to bring a Bill in the State Assembly on the quota issue.
All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti’s national president, Yashapal Malik, said the government has given its proposal, “but the people are not that happy. However, its result will be known in a day or two (whether the protests will continue or end)”.−PTI
