Jats observe 'Black Day', protests remain peaceful

The Jats today observed 'Black Day' across Haryana amid tight security arrangements, even as the agitation by the community passed off peacefully.
The traffic on the Hisar-Rewari rail route was disrupted for some time as the protesters squatted on the tracks near Ramayan village in Hisar district, officials said.
The Haryana Roadways also suspended its service from Hisar to Chandigarh, Jind, Panipat, Bhiwani and Gurgaon due to the agitation, they said.
The Black Day was observed at Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Gurugram, Hisar, Jhajjar, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Bhiwani, Dadri, Rewari, Faridabad, Palwal, Ambala, Yamuna Nagar and Mahendragarh.
A large number of protesters, including women and children participated in dharnas with black ribbons, turbans, caps and armbands to show their resentment against the government towards their demands.

Besides seeking quota in education and government jobs under Other Backward Classes category, the demands of the Jats include release of those jailed during last year's agitation, withdrawal of cases slapped during the protest and government jobs for the kin of those killed and injured while taking part in the stir.

Traffic was diverted at some areas in sensitive districts of the state, officials said.
"No untoward incident was reported from any part of the day," they said.
Yashpal Malik, president, All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS), which is spearheading the protest, joined the protesters at Rohtak and Jind.
"The Manohar Lal Khattar government is doing injustice with Jats," Malik said, adding that the community members would not hold talks with the government's proposed committee as it had "no powers."

Internet services were also suspended at some sensitive places including Rohtak, Hisar and Sonipat.
Sonipat District Magistrate K Makarand Pandurang had issued orders to impose ban on internet services under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code for 24 hours with effect from 5 PM yesterday till 5 PM today.
The District Magistrate said the ban had been imposed to prevent people from misusing these services to spread rumours.
Police also set up 'Nakas' on all roads leading to Rohtak town to prevent the entry of protesters and they have been asked to use the outer bypass of the town to reach the sit-in sites, officials said.

Paramilitary forces are also keeping a strict vigil, officials said.
As many as 30 people were killed and property worth crores of rupees was damaged at many places in Haryana during last year's Jat stir which had turned violent.
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The AIJASS chief said the number of dharnas being held across the state will be further intensified from March 1.
He reiterated that from March 1, the protesters will not cooperate with the state government and no one will pay power, water bills and installment of loans that they owe to the state.
Jats from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh will protest in the national capital on March 2 and submit a memorandum on the quota issue to the President, he said.

"A huge protest will be held in Delhi at Jantar Mantar on March 2. The protests by Jats will continue in a peaceful manner," Malik said.
The community members also plan to gherao the Parliament, the date for which will be announced on March 2.
Meanwhile, a four-member state-level committee comprising ADGP (Law and Order), Additional Advocate General and two representatives of the agitators had been constituted for redressal of grievances of the Jats.
However, Malik said Jats will not hold any talks with the committee as it was "powerless.