Jat leaders to step up quota stir in Haryana

CHANDIGARH: Announcing that dharnas in Haryana would continue till its demands were met, the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti today said it would step up its agitation beginning March 1, launching a “non-cooperation movement” that would include not paying power bills, water bills and loan instalments.

Jat protesters gather to mark ‘Balidan Divas’ at the dharna site in Ramayan village of Hisar on Sunday. Photo: Bansi Lal Basniwal

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 19

Announcing that dharnas in Haryana would continue till its demands were met, the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) today said it would step up its agitation beginning March 1, launching a “non-cooperation movement” that would include not paying power bills, water bills and loan instalments.

Asking MLAs to give it in writing by February 27 that they stood by the Jats, AIJASS leader Yashpal Malik said February 26 would be observed as “black day”. He was speaking at a “Balidan Divas” function in Rohtak’s Jassia village in memory of those killed during the Jat reservation agitation last year.

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“Observing ‘black day’ is our way of protesting against the divisive policies of the ruling BJP. We want action or no bills will be paid and the supply of vegetables and milk will be snapped,” Malik warned. The Jats adopted eight resolutions, pledging to hold dharnas at 10 more sites on March 1 and a demonstration in Delhi the following day in which Jats from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh would participate as well.

The government had today suspended and diverted Roadways services on routes falling in the “sensitive” districts of Rohtak, Hisar and Sonepat. Also, Internet services were suspended in Jassia and Sonepat for the day.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said talks would be held with Jat leaders in Panipat tomorrow and their “legitimate” demands met. The government is hopeful of a breakthrough, having announced relief for the Jat stir victims already, but the AIJASS is adamant that all its demands, including dropping cases against “its people” and jobs for the kin of those “martyred”, be accepted.