Jat quota stir: Govt to examine reservation demand, life limping back to normal

However, curfew remained in force in Rohtak, even as there was no report of violence in the last 24 hours

Life in violence-torn Haryana is limping back to normal today with Jat protesters starting to lift blockades in various parts of the state after the BJP government announced the setting up of a committee headed by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu to examine the quota demand for the community.

After remaining on the edge for several days, normalcy was returning to some cities like Kaithal and officials expect the situation to improve considerably in other affected areas today.

Authorities had lifted curfew from Kaithal and its nearby town Kalayat yesterday.

However, in Rohtak, the epicentre of pro-quota Jat agitation, curfew remained in force even as there was no report of any incident of violence and arson in the last 24 hours.

"There is no major incident in the last 24 hours in Rohtak and last night was peaceful," a senior Rohtak Police official said today.

However, he said, though there are road blockades at few places in Rohtak, the situation is likely to improve during the day.

"There are blockades in some places in the outer areas of Rohtak but the situation in the city was normal. Protesters have returned to their homes," another senior official in Rohtak district administration said today.

"But at Maharishi Dayanand University (MDU) the protesters are still sitting and we hope they will also soon go back to their homes," the official said.

Rohtak and other areas had witnessed major damage to public and private property after the Jat protest turned violent.

Following the incidents of violence and arson, curfew was imposed in Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Hissar, Hansi, Sonipat and Gohana town of Sonipat.

Blockades from some national and state highways including Saharanpur-Ambala at Yamunanagar, Paonta Sahib-Yamunanagar, Ambala-Kaithal, Saharanpur-Pipli-Kurukshetra, Zirakpur-Parwanoo and Ladwa-Shahbad were lifted late last evening.

Reports pouring from other areas said the road blockades from the Delhi-Panipat National Highway are being cleared for restoration of traffic.

According to reports blockades were also lifted in Kurukshetra and Jhajjar areas.

Traffic was yet to be fully restored on various national and state highways while train services will not be restored today as railways has announced cancellation of trains for today and tomorrow.

Yielding to pressure from agitating Jats, BJP last night announced setting up of a five-member committee under a senior Central minister to examine the quota demand for the community in government jobs.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that a committee headed by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu has been formed to look into the demand for reservation in central government jobs for Jats.

"I would like to make things clear regarding the ongoing protest. Just now, we have formed a committee which will be headed by our senior Cabinet minister Venkaiah Naidu. The committee has been asked to file a comprehensive report to find the solution of the issue as soon as possible," he had said.