On day four of agitation, talks between Govt, Jats fail

Moradabad, Mar 9: Talks between the Central government and members of the Jat community, whose protest demanding reservation for the community in government jobs entered the fourth day today, failed to break the deadlock even as rail services remained disrupted here.

The talks between Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar and a delegation of All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti in New Delhi failed to reach any conclusion today, Samiti president Yashpal Malik said.

Hundreds of protesters led by the Jat organisation have been camping at the railway tracks near Kafurpur station in J P Nagar district, about 40 km from here, since Mar 5.

"We will continue to demand the inclusion of the Jat community and 27 per cent quota for Jats at the Central government level. Till the government takes a decision in our favour, we will not go anywhere," Malik said. "We will also extend our agitation in other places if our demands are not met immediately", he said.

"Diversion of the route is the only solution to the problem till normalcy is restored at Kafurpur railway station as safety of passengers is our first priority," AK Singhal, ADRM Moradabad, said.

"We have followed up the matter with the state government and contacted the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh requesting him to solve the problem and maintain law and order," S K Budla Koti, G M Northern railways, said.

PTI