Jats call off foot-march for quota

JAT leaders have finally called off their agitation against the state and central governments, after meeting Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at his residence here on Monday. While in the morning, Jat leaders had informed the media that they would not budge unless the state government notified the reservation quota for the community by Tuesday, they softened their stance after meeting the chief minister.

"We have decided to call off our agitation. The chief minister has assured us that our demands will be met. He also assured us that the state government will soon notify the reservation quota for Jats. The Jats will return home and will not create any road or rail blockades," said Nafe Singh Nain, president of the Sarvjat Khap Aarakshan Samiti, the organisation spearheading the agitation in Haryana.

On the other hand, the Sarvjat Aarakshan Samiti's spokesperson Sube Singh, who was extremely vocal against the state and central governments, was unusually quiet on Monday. On the dramatic shift in stance of Jat leaders, before and after they met the Hooda, Sube Singh said: "I do not have any authority to give any statement to the media."

Sources said that Chief Minister Hooda had invited around two dozen Jat leaders from various khaps to discuss the issue. While the chief minister had urged the community not to start the protest march on December 16 and sought time till he returned from an official visit to Bhutan, his request was initially turned down, and the march began.

A faction of Jats from Hisar and adjoining districts of Jind had on Sunday started foot march to Delhi to press their demand for reservation in government jobs for the community.

Accusing Haryana government of misleading the community on reservation issue, Jats had earlier questioned how it will implement the 10 per cent job quota when a Supreme Court ruling puts a cap of 50 per cent on it.

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