Jat agitation on roll despite court orders

The Punjab and Haryana High Court order asking the agitating Jats to vacate the railway tracks seems to have had little effect on them as they plan to disrupt services on the Ambala-Delhi railway line.

The Jats, who have been demanding reservation in central government jobs, have stormed the railway tracks in different parts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana affecting the movement of essential supplies.

Yashpal Malik, national president of the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, refused to accept the court’s verdict and said the community leaders will take a decision on whether to vacate the rail tracks or not.

Hawa Singh Sangwan, who leads the organisation in Haryana, said the government has been fooling them for years.

State government officials said they would not let the community disrupt train services any more. A Haryana police officer said security along the Ambala- Delhi railway line has been beefed up to prevent the Jats from blocking it.

Worried by the agitation which has been on for more than two weeks, the Union home ministry has called a meeting of the chief secretaries and DGPs of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Saturday.

Home secretary G. K. Pillai will review the law and order situation of the three states with these officials after the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the state governments to ensure free flow of water and other essential items like milk, dairy products and vegetables to Delhi. The Centre has to inform the Supreme Court the steps it has taken to ensure smooth movement of trains and Pillai is expected to ask the state officials about what is being done to this effect.