CHANDIGARH/ROHTAK: Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar and two other ministers from his cabinet have been summoned to Delhi today to meet union minister Venkaiah Naidu who heads a committee that is examining the demand that the Jat community be given reservation in jobs. 10 days of agitation over the demand has left at least 18 people dead and 200 injured, and cost the industry nearly Rs. 34,000 crore.
Chief Minister Khattar will visit Rohtak- the epicenter of the violence - this morning to take stock of the situation before heading to Delhi. Haryana Agriculture minister OP Dhankar and Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu, whose house was set on fire on Friday, will accompany him to Delhi.
The agitation was called off after Jat leaders met Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday, but protesters still continue to block roads in several parts of the state demanding a written assurance from the government.
National Highway 1, that connects Delhi to Ambala, and National Highway 10, which remained blocked due to protests yesterday, have been cleared for traffic now. The Highways were repaired by paramilitary troops last night.
Two people were killed in fresh violence in Rohtak and Sonepat yesterday, taking the total number of deaths in the protests to 18. No incident of violence was reported overnight.
Curfew is still imposed in Rohtak, Sonepat, Bhiwani and Rewari. Schools in these four districts remain closed for the third day today as the administration reviews the situation. The army continues to patrol worst-affected areas.
At a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister last evening, the state cabinet formally took the decision to introduce a bill on Jat reservation in the coming assembly session.
Apart from shops and vehicles, the protesters have damaged railway stations, a mall, ATMS and several canals and water treatment plants. With 850 trains cancelled and 500 factories closed, business losses are estimated at 34,000 crore rupees.
The Munak canal, vital for water supply to Delhi, sustained heavy damages in the protest. It was partially repaired by the Army yesterday. Water supply to Delhi is expected to be restored completely by this evening.
Jats in Haryana have been demanding the benefits of affirmative action for years. The previous Congress government had announced "Special Backward Caste" for the community in 2013, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court stalled the move last year.
The Supreme Court has rejected the inclusion of Jats in the Centre's OBC list on the ground that the National Commission of Backward Castes does not consider them socially and economically backward in Haryana.
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