Hooda promises action, Haryana Jats call off strike

Jats demanding reservation in government jobs have decided to withdraw their three-week-long agitation that badly hit train traffic in parts of north India after talks with Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

The breakthrough came last night after Hooda agreed to set up a Haryana Backward Classes Commission within a month to consider the demand of communities of Roar, Jat, Jat Sikh, Tagi, Bishnoi and others desiring to come under the ambit of the Backward Classes.

In a statement issued here, Hooda said those agitating had agreed to lift all blockades and dharnas with immediate effect. The protesters will lift all blockades on train tracks and roads by noon.

Yashpal Malik, president of the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti, which was spearheading the agitation, said they would hold a meeting of Jat leaders to discuss the outcome of their talks with the state government.

President of Haryana Jat Arakshan Samiti Hawa Singh Sangwan, president of Benayan Khap Dada Nafe Singh, and representatives of other khaps thanked the chief minister for the decision to set up the commission, an official spokesman said here. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the Haryana government to immediately get the rail tracks cleared of protesters and restore movement of trains.

The Supreme Court, too, had asked Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan governments to ensure that supply of essential commodities, including water, to the national capital was not disrupted in the wake of threats by Jats agitating for quota in central jobs.

Ajit Singh flays Maya for supporting Jat stir
Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh on Saturday slammed the UP government for abetting the Jat agitation for reservation in central services.

"The Jat stir was sponsored, promoted and flared by the Mayawati government," RLD supremo Ajit Singh alleged. He said while the demand of Jats were justified, but the manner in which the agitation was launched and continued was wrong.

"In a democracy, everyone has the right to keep his viewpoint. Chakka jams are organised only for a day with the objective of giving a message. But nobody has a right to create problems for a large section of people and annoy them," Singh said.

He said that Jats were getting reservation in six states and their demand for the same in central services was justified. RLD chief said that the day the Jat stir started, the Samajwadi Party too launched an agitation.