Jat reservation protest put on hold till agitators meet Haryana government for talks on Friday

As the Jat reservation bill continues to face hurdles in the Haryana Assembly, the state administration is bracing for round two of the agitation. The Haryana government has invited jat leaders for talks on their quota demand with a promise of getting a bill on reservation passed during the ongoing Budget session that ends on March 31. Jat organisations have said they will not re-start demonstrations till their meeting with the government is over.

The Jats, who had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the government to address their demands by Thursday, said they will take a decision on the future course of action after holding meeting with Haryana Chief Secretary and Director General of Police on Friday afternoon.

Bracing for the stir, the state government deployed paramilitary forces and police in sensitive districts and they carried out Flag Marches in various places to instill confidence among people in the state which witnessed widespread violence during the first phase of the agitation last month that left 30 people dead and caused extensive loss.

The Centre has sent 80 companies (about 800 personnel) of paramilitary forces to the state which are being deployed in sensitive areas like Rohtak and Jhajjar districts, which were the worst-affected during the first phase of the agitation in February.

To defuse the situation, the state government invited the Jat leaders for talks.

"We have been invited by the government for talks tomorrow at Chandigarh," All India Jat Aarakshan Sanghursh Samiti President Yashpal Malik said. "Our leaders will be meeting Haryana Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) as per the government invitation. Till then we will not resume our agitation," he said adding that "after meeting the top officials of Haryana next course of action will be taken."

In the evening, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the Jat reservation bill may be brought during the current assembly session "on any day."

In a brief statement, he said, "Jat Reservation Bill is being drafted after consideration of every aspect and discussion with all stakeholders. This Bill may be introduced in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on any day during the ongoing Budget Session."

Finance Minister Abhimanya earlier said, "We are sure that during this session, this Bill will be passed."

He said that it is taking time to draft the bill as the government wants to make it sure that the new law does not get entangled in a legal quagmire.

"The Bill (to give reservation to Jats) is being drafted and we are making efforts to bring and pass such a Bill in the assembly which is in the interest of Haryana people and it does not get entangled in legal quagmire... This is why it is taking time (for introducing Bill in assembly)," he said. He asked Jat organisations to give their suggestions to draft this for their benefit instead of giving ultimatum on resuming agitation.

"Instead of giving ultimatum, Jat leaders should give their suggestions for drafting a Bill which will be in the interest of Haryana people. It (ultimatum) will not help the state," Abhimanyu said.

Various Jat organisations had on Monday threatened to resume their quota agitation, which rocked the state last month and claimed 30 lives, if the Manohar Lal Khattar government does not meet their demand by Thursday.

Malik demanded that state government must bring a Bill in the ongoing Assembly session to ensure reservation for Jats.

Malik said that the Samiti will organize meetings on March 19 and 20 throughout the state and after that, meeting of units of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi will be held at Nangloi in Delhi on March 21 to discuss about their demands.

Police said it has made adequate security arrangements.

"We have adequate force and we are deploying it accordingly," said Sanjay Kumar, IGP of Rohtak Range, a region that was the worst affected during last month's agitation. "We have already got the paramilitary force. The police is on the alert and we are making all arrangements (to maintain law and order)," he said.

He said additional police forces had also been arranged from within the state for deployment in the sensitive areas in and around Rohtak.

Asked about the situation in Rohtak, Jhajjar and some other areas worst hit by recent unrest, the IG said, "at present the situation is normal."

Reports said that authorities have stepped up security with deployment of additional security personnel in many towns, including Jind and Sonipat.