Jat agitation: Thousands protest at Jantar Mantar pressing for job quota

Violence during Feb 2016 agitation by Jats in Haryana left 30 people dead and over 200 injured

Taking their quota stir to the national capital, several thousand Jat community members protested at the Jantar Mantar here on Thursday, pressing for reservation in jobs and educational institutions.

Agitators from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Punjab assembled here with their demands, which also includes jobs to the next of kin of those killed in the 2016 violent agitation, withdrawal of cases against the Jats and action against officers who were involved.

Violence during the February 2016 agitation by Jats across several districts in Haryana left 30 people dead and over 200 injured. Government and private properties worth hundreds of crore were also damaged.

"We have come here to protest against the insensitivity which the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana has shown to our demands. We will march to Parliament with our demands," said Yashpal Malik, president of the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS).

He said the community was prepared for a long drawn battle and that essential supplies are likely to be affected.

"It is for the government to come out with a solution, but the kind of attitude the Haryana government has shown, we don't feel it wants a solution. We are ready for a long-drawn battle and this march is an announcement of that," said Malik, adding that over 50 lakh Jats from 13 states will be joining the stir.