Union minister supports Jats' demand for reservation

Amid a renewed agitation by a section of the Jat community in Haryana in support of their demand for reservation, Union Minister Birender Singh on Monday said reservation is the right of the community.

"Jats should get reservation. It is their right. If Gujjars and Yadavs are eligible (for reservation), the Jats too are," the Rural Development Minister told reporters here.

The Jat agitation was resumed in Haryana from June 5 by the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti whose supporters staged protests at a dozen-odd places in some districts, including Rohtak and Hisar, on Monday.

Singh, a Rajya Sabha member from Haryana, asserted that the Jats never indulged in violence.

"Jats have never indulged in violence. They only get violent on the border and not on the streets," he said.

During the violence in February during the Jat stir in support of the demand for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, at least 30 persons were killed, 320 others injured and property worth crores of rupees was destroyed.

--IANS

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