Jat quota: Protesters block Old Gurgaon roads for two hours

Protesters demanding reservation for Jats intensified their stir on Thursday, disrupting traffic in parts of Old Gurgaon for more than two hours.

Despite chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar inviting them for negotiations, protesters demanding reservation for Jats intensified their stir on Thursday, disrupting traffic in parts of Old Gurgaon for more than two hours.

Protesters blocked the roads by parking cycle rickshaws and autorickshaws on it.Due to the blockades, Haryana Roadways suspended bus services on some routes. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

The Jats have been protesting across the state for the past six days demanding reservation in government jobs under the OBC (other backward communities) quota.

Both sides of the Sector 4/5 crossing (one leading to the railway station and the other to Bhim Nagar fire station) were blocked by protesters. The Daultabad flyover -- an important junction that connects Bahadurgarh, Badli, Pataudi, Jhajjar and caters to a large number of workers travelling to factories in Manesar -- was also blocked.

The protest took place from 9.30 am to noon, a police officer said.

Protesters blocked the roads by parking cycle rickshaws and autorickshaws on it.Due to the blockades, Haryana Roadways suspended bus services on some routes.

Because of the blockade at the Sector 4/5 crossing, many commuters travelling to the railway station had to walk more than a kilometre.

The roads were freed after the police dispersed the protesters.

“Thirty police personnel were present at each of the trouble spots. PCR vehicles and teams of women constables were also sent. No arrest was made and no violence took place,” assistant commissioner of police (crime) Hawa Singh said.

The All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti, which is organising the protest, threatened that they will intensify the stir.

“We will intensify the stir if the government does not give any firm assurance. We will block NH-8 and disrupt rail traffic between Gurgaon and New Delhi,” a member of the Samiti said.