Stir will end only after quota Ordinance: Jat leaders

Chandigarh, Feb 20: Several Jat leaders today refused to call off the pro-quota agitation unless the government promulgates an ordinance to include the community in the OBC category.

The response came after Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today released a statement saying that his government has "accepted" their demands, but did not elaborate.

The leaders also demanded that a compensation of Rs 50 lakh be given to the kin of the person killed in firing yesterday and a government job to one of his family members.

All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti's national president Yashapal Malik said, "We will not withdraw our agitation unless the state government brings an ordinance for giving reservation to Jats. "We will not accept mere statements issued by Khattar.

The government will have to promulgate ordinance first. The government should pass a Bill in this regard in the Assembly," he told PTI.

Replying to reports that youths from the community were "not in control" of the agitation leaders as they were indulging in incidents of violence and arson in parts of the state, Mailk said that the youth are in "our control."

Malik alleged that "BJP workers were indulging in violence and arson." The leader had yesterday accused Khattar of having a "casteist mentality" and resisting quota demand as he was "not from the community".

Earlier in the day, the BJP government in Haryana had "accepted" the demands of the community which is seeking quota under OBC category.

Khattar had appealed to protesters to end their stir and asked them to "return to their homes as the Government has accepted their demands", but did not elaborate. Meanwhile, Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki has appealed the agitators to call off their stir and resolve the issue through negotiations.

"Violence is no solution to any problem, rather it creates hurdles in the path of development and prosperity," the Governor said in a statement here today. The Governor said that unity, brotherhood and harmony have been the tradition of Haryana.

"They should desist from acts of vandalism and arson. I appeal all agitators to call off their stir and resolve the issue by sitting across the table," he said. Normal life has been paralysed in Haryana in view of Jat agitation, which has also been marred by incidents of violence.

PTI