Jats block Alwar-Mathura National Highway demanding reservation: Here’s what they are asking for

The tensions are likely to rise after they blocked the Mathura-Alwar railway line on Thursday.

Updated: June 23, 2017 12:26 PM IST

By Ravi Kaushal

Jats block Alwar-Mathura National Highway demanding reservation: Here's what they are asking for
Jats blocked the Alwar-Mathura railway line.

Jaipur, June 23: The members of Jat community on Friday blocked the National Highway connecting Alwar with Mathura and raised slogans demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. Bharatpur, along with neighbouring districts, was the epicentre of protests which witnessed large-scale violence after the Supreme Court discontinued the reservation of the community. The rail routes of Agra-Bandakui was also reportedly affected.

The tensions are likely to rise after they blocked the Mathura-Alwar railway line on Thursday. Rajasthan other backward castes Commission on Thursday submitted its report on the demands of reservation.

The commission chairman, Jitendra Goyal, submitted the report in the presence of Panchayati Raj and Rural development minister Rajendra Rathore, social justice and empowerment minister Arun Chaturvedi.

What are their demands?

Jats, Jat Sikhs, Rors, Tyagis and Bishnois, are demanding reservation under other backward castes category after the Rajasthan government led by Vasundhara Raje promised an increase in quota from 10 per cent to 20 per cent under  Economic backward communities. The government also promised an increase in the ceiling from Rs. 2.5 Lakh to Rs. 6 Lakh to accommodate more people under the category.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan’s Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi urged the community members to call off the protest. He said the Jats should withdraw their agitation as the OBC Commission today presented its report to the state government. He added the state government would consider the recommendations of the Commission with regards to the quota to jats in Bharatpur and Dholpur districts.

The community members held a ‘maha panchayat’ near the tracks on Thursday and blocked the railway line between Vehaj and Bedham railway stations. The protesters were led by Congress MLA Vishvendra Singh demanding reservation for the Jats of Dholpur and Bharatpur districts.

Singh said, “We have been demanding OBC reservation for Jats of Dholpur and Bharatpur for the last two years. From August 2015 till today, the long pending demand has not been fulfilled. It is under rising pressure that the OBC Commission has submitted its report today. But, they have not declared when it will be implemented. We want government to come out clear.”

(With inputs from PTI)

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