Hisar

A Jat outfit today continued their protest pressing for reservation by blocking railway tracks here for the second day leading to disruption of train services on the route.

The All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti-led protesters criticised the government for the “indifferent” attitude towards reservation for Jats in government jobs and educational institutions and threatened to intensify their agitation if their demands were not met.

A large number of protesters, including women, squatted on tracks between Hisar and Rewari near Mayyar barrier, leading to diversion and partial cancellation of several trains.

Gorakhpur-Hisar Express was diverted via Rohtak-Jakhal- Hisar, Amritsar-Ajmer Express was diverted via Jakhal-Rohtak- Bhiwani and cancelled between Jakhal-Hisar-Bhiwani, North Western Railway PRO Kamal Joshi said.

He said Tilak Bridge-Sirsa Express has been diverted via Rohtak-Jakhal-Hisar.

Other trains which were partially cancelled were Delhi-Bathinda Express between Bhiwani-Bathinda in both up and down directions, Fazilka-Rewari passenger, short-terminated at Hisar and cancelled between Hisar and Rewari, he said.

Rewari-Sri Ganganagar passenger will be terminated at Hansi and remain cancelled between Hansi-Sri Ganganagar.

Hisar-Jaipur passenger would be short terminated at Bhiwani and remain cancelled between Bhiwani and Hisar in both directions.

“A number of other passenger trains have also been short- terminated at Bhiwani, Hansi and Hisar due to the blockade,” railway officials said.

District president of AIJASS, Dalbir Panghal said their protest on tracks will continue till their demand was accepted by the government.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament from Kurukshetra, Raj Kumar Saini, today alleged that some ministers in Haryana were supporting the agitation by Jat community, and are inciting the community.

While talking to media persons here at his residence in Kurukshetra, Saini challenged the ministers from Jat community to resign and join the agitation by Jats.

He demanded that Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar call Central paramilitary forces and get the railway tracks cleared from the Jat agitators.

The MP also demanded registration of sedation cases against the agitators.

He said when the state government had already constituted a committee to go into the matter, where was the need for these ministers and others to “incite” public from Jat community for agitation and blocking railway tracks.

Saini had been running a campaign against giving any reservations to the Jats under OBC quota. PTI