M A I N   N E W S

Talks inconclusive, Jat stir to go on
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 16
Rejecting a request by the Centre to suspended their agitation, the Jat community tonight decided to continue with its ongoing stir while keeping open the option for the next round of talks.

The Jat leaders had meet Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik where they were asked to suspended their agitation demanding reservation in Central jobs under the OBC quota. The core committee of the protesting Jat leaders meet at Vasundhara near Ghaziabad and rejected the government’s request. Minutes after the meeting ended, All-India Jat Arakshan Samiti president Yashpal Malik told the Tribune over phone: “We have decided to continue with our stir while keeping the option for talks open”.

“The Central Government did seek suspension of the agitation till the discussions were on. However, that was not acceptable,” Malik said, adding that the community would go ahead with its plans. The agitation is also aims to stop supplies of essential commodities to Delhi on March 17. The National Capital is “ringed” by Jat-dominated villages falling in Jhajjar, Sonepat, Ghaziabad and Noida districts, from where milk and vegetables are sourced. The agitators have also threatened to block the supply of petrol and diesel to Delhi.

Earlier in the day, after emerging from the meeting with the Union ministers, the Jat leaders had dropped ample hints that the agitation could be suspended by tomorrow following an assurance by the Central Government to look into the issue.

The Home Minister told the Jat leaders that the government needed 2-3 days time to discuss the matter.