AIJASS threatens to launch Jat agitation again from August 15

All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) has threatened to launch agitation again from August 15 to press for reservation and also said that Jats and people from other communities should join hands to defeat the BJP.

After violence rocked Haryana during the Jat quota stir in February 2016, leaving 30 persons dead, the state assembly had in March 2016, unanimously passed a Bill on reservation for persons belonging to the state's backward classes including Jats.

Later, acting on a PIL filed by a Bhiwani resident Murari Lal Gupta, the High Court had ordered a stay on the Haryana government's notification on 10 per cent reservation for Jats and six other communities including Jat Sikhs, Tyagis, Rors, Gujjars, Bishnois and Mulla Jats or Muslim Jats.

"We have passed a resolution. If our demands aren't fulfilled by 15 August, we will stage protest at the same place where Haryana CM or his ministers will hold rally. We will not let the govt function," AIJASS president Yashpal Malik told news agency ANI in Rohtak today (June 2).

"We will boycott them in upcoming elections and spread the message to other states where elections are to be held. Like Hindu-Muslim came together in Kairana and Noorupur, if Jat and non-Jat people get together, they (BJP) will be wiped off from everywhere," he added.

Starting on 12 February, 2016, the Jats organized non-violent protests for reservation by blocking railway lines and roads, while non-Jats opposed to their demands organized counter-protests. On 18 February, 2016, a group of non-Jats protesters clashed violently with a group of lawyers protesting against 2016 JNU sedition controversy, mistaking the lawyers for Jats.

Later on, they also came into conflict with the Jat students. On the same day, the police allegedly beat up some Jat students in Rohtak, while trying to open a blockade. Police also raided a Boy's hostel, and reportedly assaulted the Jat students, an occurrence which was "captured on camera and circulated over social media". Following these incidents, several incidents of inter-caste violence took place across Haryana.

By 22 February, 2016, the protests were estimated to have caused a loss of Rs 340 billion in northern India. Railway Minister told in Lok Sabha, "The total loss suffered by Railways on account of damage to property and cancellation of tickets during the agitation is about Rs 55.92 crore. By 26 February, 30 people had been killed in the violence.