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Haryana Government Will Grant OBC Status to Jats

Haryana Government Will Grant OBC Status to Jats
BAHADURGARH, INDIA - FEBRUARY 20: Jat community members protest demanding reservation in government services on February 20, 2016 in Bahadurgarh, India. A mob of around 10,000 people carrying weapons from the surrounding villages of Rohtak were also seen vandalising private property. Police and army have not been able to reach the area as yet. At least one person was killed and 20 others were injured on Saturday in Haryana's Jhajjar after Indian Army personnel fired on Jat protestors, demanding reservation in jobs and education, turned violent and tried to set government buildings on fire. Jat leaders rejected the offer made by the state government and said that the stir would continue till their demand is met. (Photo by Ravi Choudhary/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
BAHADURGARH, INDIA - FEBRUARY 20: Jat community members protest demanding reservation in government services on February 20, 2016 in Bahadurgarh, India. A mob of around 10,000 people carrying weapons from the surrounding villages of Rohtak were also seen vandalising private property. Police and army have not been able to reach the area as yet. At least one person was killed and 20 others were injured on Saturday in Haryana's Jhajjar after Indian Army personnel fired on Jat protestors, demanding reservation in jobs and education, turned violent and tried to set government buildings on fire. Jat leaders rejected the offer made by the state government and said that the stir would continue till their demand is met. (Photo by Ravi Choudhary/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

NEW DELHI -- The Haryana government on Sunday decided to grant the OBC status to Jats after their community leaders held a meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, said Anil Jain, who is BJP incharge of Haryana.

“It has been decided that in coming Assembly session, OBC status will be granted to Jats,” said Jain.

After meeting with Home Minister, Jat Sangharsh Samiti leader Jaipal Singh Sangwan appealed for end to agitation in Haryana and said that their demands have been met.

Haryana was on the edge on Sunday as fresh incidents of arson and violence shook the state with a ninth town being brought under curfew as the Jat agitation for quota under OBC entered the eighth day so far claiming 10 lives.

The Jat stir also hit Delhi with the Arvind Kejriwal government announcing closure of schools tomorrow as part of water rationing after supply from Haryana was disrupted. The national capital also witnessed big traffic jams in some parts.

Ten persons have been killed and about 150 injured during the ongoing Jat stir, Haryana DGP Yashpal Singhal said even as claimed that steps were being taken to restore water supply to Delhi and clear road and rail blockades.

"According to the information we have so far, in the entire state 10 people have been killed and about 150 injured," he said.

As the situation turned volatile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealed for calm. "I appeal to all to maintain peace and ensure that there are no untoward incidents," he said.

The Home Minister met a delegation comprising Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, BJP MP and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh and Haryana Minister Abhimanyu rs to find a way to resolve the situation.

With violent protests by Jats escalating, Haryana Minister Anil Vij today made it clear that talks cannot be held with a "mob" and said Jats should form a committee to hold parleys with the state government.

Road and rail traffic through Haryana destined for North India from Delhi side remained disrupted with bus and train services remaining suspended. In the wake of shooting air fares airlines announced additional flights to Chandigarh and Amritsar today.

Curfew was imposed in Kaithal city in the wake of ongoing Jat agitation after tension erupted in the town due to protests by Jats and tussle between Jats and non-Jats.

With this, now Kaithal has become ninth city where curfew has been clamped after Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Hisar, Hansi, Sonipat and Gohana town of Sonipat district.

While several roads have been blocked in Kaithal, protesting Jats have put up a tent in the middle of Hissar- Chandigarh national highway to express their anger for not being included in OBC category.

Markets, shops and commercial establishments remained shut in the wake of violent protest unleashed by agitating Jats.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.