Withdraw cases against protesters within 72 hours: Jats' ultimatum to Haryana govt

New Delhi: Jats have threatened to revive agitation if state government fails to take back cases against the protesters in next 72 hours. 

The protesting Jats have also asked schools and colleges to remain closed. 

Besides withdrawal of FIRs registered against the protesters, compensation to those killed during the stir and action against BJP MP from Kurukshetra Raj Kumar Saini for his anti-Jat reservation stand.

“On March 17, we will decide on the next mode of action on whether to block roads, railway tracks or any other type of agitation,” All India Jat Mahasabha chief Yashpal Malik said.

The State government must bring a Bill in the ongoing budget session of the Assembly to ensure reservation for Jats, he said.

Jat leaders from across the State have decided that community members will hit the streets again if the State government does not act, he said, adding that dharnas this time would also cover the rural areas.

“The State government has time till March 17. So far the government has not responded to any of our demands,” said Akhil Bhartiya Jat Mahasabha president, Hawa Singh Sangwan.

Malik said the “government is keen to crush the members of Jat community even though their protest was peaceful”. He also said the government should control its ministers from issuing statements against the Jat community.

He claimed that the Jat agitation has continued since 2005-06 in 13 states, including Uttar Pardesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Madhya Pardesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, in a “peaceful manner”.

Political outfits in Haryana have for their vested interests given the Jat community a bad name, he said and sought a probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge into incidents of violence during the quota stir in Haryana.

A series of protests by Jats in Haryana last month had crippled the local life and brought the business to a standhill. 

The week-long protests had left about 30 people dead.