With the Jat agitation escalating, the BJP government in Haryana on Saturday said it has "accepted" the demands of the community which is seeking quota under OBC category.
Appealing to protesters to end their stir, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in a statement on Saturday afternoon asked agitators to "return to their homes as the Government has accepted their demands", but did not elaborate.
After an all-party meeting on Friday, the Chief Minister had said "a way will be worked out to give reservation to Jats."
Jats have been demanding quota in jobs and educational institutions under OBC category.The agitators on Friday demanded a "written assurance from the government", saying they "cannot be befooled with hollow promises every time".
As the Jat protest turned violent leading to the death of one person on Friday and spread to various parts of the state, Khattar said nothing can be gained by damaging public property.
"No one will be benefited by damaging public property. Therefore, those agitating and the youth should maintain peace in the state," he said. He also urged people not to be swayed by rumours. The Haryana CM also said the state government does not agree with the reported statements of BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini who had opposed any quota to Jats.
"No one should make such a statement which adversely affects the feeling of brotherhood," Khattar said. Notably, Jats are miffed at the opposition of Kurukshetra MP Saini to Jat reservation. He had objected to giving reservation to Jats and had even threatened to resign if the OBC quota is affected.
The district administration on Saturday clamped curfew in Sonipat city and Gohana town of the district. Curfew has now been imposed in five towns in Haryana including Sonipat city in the wake of incidents of violence during the Jat agitation.
"Sonipat city and Gohana town have been brought under curfew on Saturday," Sonipat's Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Rattan said. Protesters have on Saturday blocked the NH-1 near Nangal village in Sonipat district.
Curfew had already been clamped in Rohtak, Bhiwani and Jhajjar towns. Elsewhere, protesters put up blockades at National Highway 73, Saharanpur-Kurukshetra near Ladwa, Saharanpur-Ambala near village Kail, Yamunanagar-Poanta Sahib highway near Chhachhrauli and Bilaspur-Sadhura road.
Road and Railway traffic continued to be affected in the state due to blockades resulting in disruption of services from Delhi and beyond to Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh through various National Highways, including NH 44 (Delhi Ambala) and NH 10 (Delhi-Hissar- Fazilka). Several trains were cancelled by Railway authorities.
Police said some persons had pelted stones at the Jhajjar residence of Haryana Minister O P Dhankar, but no one was injured in the incident. As the violence by Jat protestors demanding quota continued unabated, Chief Minister Manohar Khattar issued a fresh appeal to the people to maintain peace and law and order, saying government would find a solution to the problem.
"Such incidents create disharmony," he said here after reviewing the situation with his ministerial colleagues and senior civil and police officers. Appealing to protestors to end their protest, Khattar said that nothing will be gained by destroying public property, as more central forces were rushed to the state.
Normal life remained disrupted in large parts of the state with shops and commercial establishments besides schools remaining closed, mobile internet services being suspended in many districts, and transportation of essential commodities, including LPG, milk and vegetables, also being adversely affected.
Protesters have also blocked NH-44 near Nangal village in Sonipat district and near Panipat affecting movement of traffic, which connects Punjab, HP, Chandigarh and J&K. Petrol pumps in various areas have gone dry as fresh supplies are not being received.
In Meham. a police Station and some adjoining buildings were torched by the protesters. Budha Khera Railway Station was set ablaze in Jind district resulting in damage to furniture and official records.
The railway station falls on Jind-Panipat rail route. Despite fresh incidents of violence being reported, State Police chief Yashpal Singhal claimed that the situation had improved since Friday. He said that one person was killed in an incident of violence at Rohtak on Friday.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC banning assembly of five or more persons and taking out of processions have been clamped in more districts including Panipat, Hissar, Jhajjar, Jind and Kaithal.
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