Jat stir put on hold, Parliament march called off

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) The Jat agitation that threatened to cripple normal life in Delhi on Monday has been postponed, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Jat leader Yashpal Malik announced here on Sunday.

The decision followed several rounds of parleys in Delhi between the government and prominent Jat leaders spearheading the community's agitation in neighbouring Haryana.

The Jat community, which is demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, among other things, resumed their agitation on January 29.

Apart from Khattar, Union Ministers Birender Singh and P.P. Chaudhary -- both Jats -- threw their weight from the government's side to persuade the Jat leaders to postpone their agitation in support of their demands and grievances.

Khattar said both sides have reached a consensus on five points, including initiation of the process of reservation for the Jats in central government jobs, reconsideration of cases lodged against Jat agitators since 2010 and permanent jobs to next-of-kin of those killed and those maimed during the 2016 February agitation in Haryana.

Besides, the government will also give monetary compensation to the injured and institute probe against officers accused of high-handedness during the Jat stir, he said.

"All this will be done in a time-bound manner. Our government is committed to the welfare of the Jats," the Chief Minister said.

Malik said the Jats will not undertake the proposed march to Parliament on Monday.

However, he said, token dharnas at some places in Haryana would continue for the time being.

Khattar, who was to visit Lucknow to attend the swearing-in of Yogi Adityanath as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, called off his visit to be available for parleys with Jat leaders in his state.

The protest call had set alarm bells ringing in Delhi as Parliament is in session. There were apprehensions that normal life would be severely hit in the national capital, apart from the fact that students were to sit for board exams on Monday.

Earlier on Sunday, Delhi Metro announced it will suspend services to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and close 12 important stations from Sunday night. These were Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhavan, Lok Kalyan Marg, Janpath, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, R.K. Ashram Marg, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market and Shivaji Stadium.

According to a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation official, the 12 stations in central Delhi were to be shut from 8 p.m. on Sunday till further notice. But interchange facility was to be made available at the relevant stations.