Jats to protest at Jantar Mantar on May 11

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jind, March 22

The slogan — “Sabse pehle I am a Jat” (I am a Jat first) — reverberated during the mahapanchayat here today, signaling the community’s unity to again launch a prolonged agitation to claim, what they say, their “right”.

The Jats resolved to protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on May 11 to against a Supreme Court’s decision to scrap a notification granting the status of other backward class (OBC) to the community.

Leaders of the Akhil Bharatiya Jat Mahasabha (ABJM), Akhil Bharatiya Jat Reservation Sangharash Samiti (ABJRSS), Sarv Jat Khap Panchayat (SJKP), Sarv Khap Panchayat (SKP), brainstormed for almost three hours in a local park.

“On May 11, Jats will submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his government has supported reservation for Jats. A national-level coordination committee will be formed and our future course of action announced,” said Kuldeep Singh Dhanda, convener, SKP.

All Jat leaders favoured peaceful protest, but they did not rule out the possibility of taking a violent path if the Centre failed to give them justice. “Jats are getting restive after the SC scrapped a notification granting the status of a backward class to the community,” a member of the community said.

“The Modi government has supported the UPA dispensation’s decision to include Jats in the OBC list. Jats will meet central leaders to seek their help and hope we will get justice,” said Hawa Singh Sangwan, state president of the ABJRSS.

A state-level committee was formed today to prepare for the May 11 protest. Later, district-level committees will be constituted.