Jat quota stir: 20 persons detained in Hisar

Community says district administration turned down its formal request to stage an indefinite dharna starting Saturday

With the pro-quota agitation by Jats entering its 14th day, as many as 20 persons belonging to the community were today detained by police for holding a dharna without permission at Surewala Chowk in Hisar, Haryana.

Former district president of All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) Ami Singh said the organisation had applied for permission for staging an indefinite dharna starting today, which was turned down by the district administration.

When the Jat protesters assembled near the Chowk on Hisar-Tohana road, about 40 km from here, at around 10 AM today, police along with officials from district administration asked them to lift their dharna.

Later, police detained 20 persons and took them to Barwala police station. Those detained include spokesperson of Kundu Khap, Jagbir Kundu and ex-president of Hisar Zila Parishad, Ajit Litani, among others, Singh said.

Jat protesters have been demanding reservation in central as well in state government jobs and release of "innocent youths" arrested during the stir in February.

They are also demanding adequate compensation and jobs for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the earlier round of protests, and cancellation of the sedition case registered against AIJASS president Yashpal Malik.

Meanwhile, an indefinite dharna by the members of community continued for 14th day today at Mayyar village in Hisar district.

Several Jat leaders who addressed the protest meet, accused the Khattar government of having an "indifferent" attitude towards reservation and alleged that the state government was not serious about the issue.

They claimed that reservation is the right of Jats and they would get it from the government.

The protesters also demanded withdrawal of cases registered against Jat leaders and other agitators.

The spokesperson of the Samiti, Ram Bhagat Malik, said the dharna would remain peaceful.

Meanwhile, district administration said they have made elaborate arrangements to deal with any situation.