Jat Reservation Protests: Centre Calls For Truce As Violence Rages

ROHTAK/NEW DELHI:  Violence continued in different parts of Haryana, particularly Rohtak and Jind, as protesters demanding reservation in jobs and education for the Jat community set fire to police vehicles, buses, hotels and a mall. Despite a curfew and army presence, protesters continued violence in Rohtak setting a petrol pump on fire. Time has come for the government to initiate the process of giving reservation to the Jat community, Union minister Birender Singh said on Saturday. Accompanied by two other BJP leaders who are also ministers, he said the top leadership has authorised them to hold dialogue with the community. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier said that the government is ready to agree to the demands of the protesters within the ambit of the Constitution and appealed to them to withdraw the agitation. He was speaking after a meeting of top state officials to assess the situation.   NDTV