Thaindian News

Chandigarh, March 22 (IANS) Leaders of Haryana Jats Tuesday threatened to halt road and train traffic and disrupt water supply to Delhi if the authorities failed to promise them quotas in government jobs.

“If they don’t accept our demands by March 25, we will block the Delhi-Ambala track. If nothing happens by the final deadline March 28, we will block all railway tracks and roads in Haryana including those to Delhi,” Jat leader Hawa Singh Sangwan said.

Hundreds of Jats Tuesday continued to block rail tracks in Hisar, Jind and Bhiwani districts.

They said they will not budge till the community was included in the Other Backward Class (OBC) for job quota eligibility in the central and Haryana governments.

“We will not withdraw our agitation till the two governments accept our demand,” Sangwan said.

Talks between Jat leaders and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Hisar Monday collapsed.

Hooda had said that Jats should get reservation only in central government jobs.

Northern Railway Monday cancelled several trains passing through Haryana. Trains ran behind schedule on the Delhi-Ambala route following diversions.

In Hisar, Bhiwani and Jind, train services have been paralysed for nearly two weeks.

The central government has sent 10 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) to deal with the Jats.

“We are not afraid of CRPF. We are ready for any sacrifice,” Sangwan said.

The Haryana Police has drawn flak for not taking action against the protesters in the last two weeks despite the inconvenience to hundreds of train passengers.

Haryana’s police chief has warned the Jats against blocking railway tracks but no action has been taken against the protesters.

Jat leaders say they don’t trust Hooda or opposition leader Om Prakash Chautala although both are from the community.