Jat stir enters fourth day, Yashpal Malik addresses protesters

The ongoing Jat quota agitation in Haryana today entered its fourth day and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere, officials said here, even as AIJASS national president Yashpal Malik addressed the protesters at several locations.
Amid elaborate security arrangements, the Jats held dharnas at several locations which remained peaceful, they said.
The call for the fresh stir has been given by some Jat outfits, especially those owing allegiance to All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti headed by Yashpal Malik.
In view of the large number of protesters gathering at Jassia village today, the authorities had to divert traffic on the Rohtak-Panipat national highway.

Malik said that he addressed the gatherings at Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat and Panipat.
Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Ram Niwas said that no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.

"The protesters are carrying out their agitation in a peaceful manner so far," Niwas said.
The government is also closely monitoring the social media for maintenance of law and order, he said.
Niwas said the Deputy Commissioners can exercise powers given under the National Security Act, 1980, if required, to deal with the protesters.
"The DCs can take a call depending on the situation," he said.
However, Malik alleged that this shows the "dictatorial attitude" of the Haryana government.

"The NSA extends to the whole of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir. While NSA can't be invoked in J&K, but here in Haryana, where Jats are sitting in a peaceful manner, the powers have been given to DCs to take a call.
"We want to remind the Haryana government that people of Haryana understand the language of love and coercive methods cannot be used to suppress their voice," Malik said over phone.
He also demanded that ruling BJP should "first control its own MP (from Kurukshetra) Raj Kumar Saini (over alleged anti-Jat rants) before talking of invoking NSA."

Malik said that in the coming days the number of protesters will swell at the dharna sites in support of their various demands.