Jat stir: Khattar asks youth to stop protest

With Haryana on the boil in the wake of the Jat reservation row, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday appealed to the people, especially to the youth to stop the protest, adding that the government is with the people on the issue of reservation.

"I appeal to the people especially the youth to stop the protest. Nothing will be gained by destroying properties. I have earlier also said that we agree to the demands. We are with people in the issue of reservation," Khattar said.

"As far as the statement of Raj Kumar Saini is concerned, me and my government do not agree to that. There should be no statement which hampers brotherhood," he added.

Fresh incidents of violence were today reported in Haryana as the Jat stir for quota intensified with protestors torching a railway station in Jind even as the Army conducted a flag march in two curfew-bound districts of Rohtak and Bhiwani, while curfew has now also been clamped in Jhajjar.

Khattar had recently held talks with Jat and Khap leaders here, but these failed to bear fruit as the protesters remained adamant on their main demand of OBC quota in government jobs and rejected his announcement of enhancement of the quota of reservation for Economically Backward Classes in the state from 10 to 20 percent.

Raj Kumar Saini, Kurukshetra MP, has threatened to 'fight back' against the Jat protesters if the government fails to bring normalcy in the state by Sunday.