The agitation by the Jats demanding reservation under OBC category on Wednesday affected rail and road traffic in several parts of Haryana prompting Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to announce enhancement of the quota of reservation for Economically Backward Classes in the state from 10 to 20 per cent.
During the day, the protests by the Jats spread from Rohtak-Jhajjar region to Sonipat, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad and Jind districts, with large number of women also joining the protests. While lawyers joined in the protests at Sonipat, a large number of students held a protest in Rohtak.
The protesters are demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category.
Jat and Khap leaders including Hawa Singh Sangwan, Sudeep Kalkal, Mahender Singh Mor and Santosh Dahiya held a four-hour long meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, in which Finance Minister Abhimanyu, Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar and State BJP President Subhash Barala were also present.
Later, the CM announced to enhance the quota of reservation in government jobs and admission in educational institutions for Economically Backward Classes in the state from 10 to 20 per cent.
He also announced to enhance the annual income ceiling from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh so that maximum people can get benefit under this category. The Chief Minister announced this while addressing a meeting of Jat and Khap leaders, an official spokesman said. Khattar said that in the today s meeting a “broad consensus” was reached between the government and the Jat leaders over the reservation issue.