Protests by Jats turned violent on Friday with agitators setting the house of Haryana Finance Minister Captian Abhimanyu on fire and disrupting rail and road traffic, forcing the state government to yield up by announcing reservation quota for the community.
The finance minister was not in his residence at the time of attack. The protest has claimed a life and rendered 21 injured after Jat leaders refused to withdraw their agitation until a legislation to include the community under the Other Backward Communities category for reservations was passed, ANI reported.
Protestors blocked roads at many places in Panipat, hampering vehicle traffic towards Uttar Pradesh.
The protesters accused Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar of resisting their demand as he was “not from the community” even as the state government called an all-party meeting to end the impasse.
Normal life has been severely affected in various parts of Haryana with the agitation affecting supplies of essential commodities such as milk, vegetables, LPG and petroleum products in several parts of the state including Rohtak, Jind, Bhiwani, Sonepat and Hisar.
Internet and mobile SMS services have been suspended indefinitely by authorities in Rohtak district in the wake of the protests by Jat community which is demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category.
The agitators, who have rejected Khattar’s offer of enhancing quota for economically backward classes, blocked several roads in Panipat affecting vehicluar movement to Uttar Pradesh.
Haryana Roadways suspended its bus services on many affected routes in view of the agitation.
The administration has imposed prohibitory orders in the entire Rohtak district, banning assembly of five or more persons.
The protests have disrupted road and rail traffic with the worst hit being the Rohtak-Jhajjar region, the epicentre of the protests, besides Bhiwani, Sonipat and Hisar.
The Jat leaders showed no signs of relenting and claimed that they will seek “support” from the community leaders from Uttar Pradesh.
“We are not going to withdraw our agitation till our demand is met. We will intensify our agitation in other parts of the state, including Panchkula and Yamunanagar,” All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti’s national president, Yashapal Malik, said.