New Delhi March 17:
Representatives of agitating Jats, who have been demanding reservation for the community in central government jobs under Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, on Wednesday hinted at withdrawal of their stir by Thursday after government assured to look into the issue.
The assurance came during their meeting with home minister P Chidambaram and social justice minister Mukul Wasnik. After the meeting, a delegation of Jat leaders said they would hold a meeting of their 'core committee' by Thursday where the request of the central government to suspend the agitation would be discussed.
"The home minister told us that the government needs two-three days time to discuss our demand. He also requested us to suspend our agitation. We will discuss it among ourselves and let them know," leader of the Jat delegation Yashpal Malik told reporters here. Malik is learnt to have tactical support of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati who supports their demand for reservation.
Describing their meeting with Chidambaram and Wasnik as "positive", Malik said the Union ministers told them that another round of meeting would be held within three-four days as the demand for inclusion of Jats in the central government list of OBCs would be discussed with the ministry of law and other relevant wings of the government. "As of now, our agitationis on. But we will review it following the government assurance," Malik said.
Later, another delegation of Jats, led by Congress MP Deepender Hooda and Rashtriya Lok Dal MP Jayant Chaudhary, met Chidambaram and pressed for the community's demand. Both said though they supported the demand of reservation, they did not approve the ongoing agitation which was affecting normal lives of people. The decision to hold talks with the agitating Jats was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Jat stir has badly hit rail movement with protesters squatting on rail tracks disrupting movement of trains in various parts of north India. Jats had threatened to cut all essential supplies to Delhi if their demands were not met by March 17.
Representatives of agitating Jats, who have been demanding reservation for the community in central government jobs under Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, on Wednesday hinted at withdrawal of their stir by Thursday after government assured to look into the issue.
The assurance came during their meeting with home minister P Chidambaram and social justice minister Mukul Wasnik. After the meeting, a delegation of Jat leaders said they would hold a meeting of their 'core committee' by Thursday where the request of the central government to suspend the agitation would be discussed.
"The home minister told us that the government needs two-three days time to discuss our demand. He also requested us to suspend our agitation. We will discuss it among ourselves and let them know," leader of the Jat delegation Yashpal Malik told reporters here. Malik is learnt to have tactical support of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati who supports their demand for reservation.
Describing their meeting with Chidambaram and Wasnik as "positive", Malik said the Union ministers told them that another round of meeting would be held within three-four days as the demand for inclusion of Jats in the central government list of OBCs would be discussed with the ministry of law and other relevant wings of the government. "As of now, our agitationis on. But we will review it following the government assurance," Malik said.
Later, another delegation of Jats, led by Congress MP Deepender Hooda and Rashtriya Lok Dal MP Jayant Chaudhary, met Chidambaram and pressed for the community's demand. Both said though they supported the demand of reservation, they did not approve the ongoing agitation which was affecting normal lives of people. The decision to hold talks with the agitating Jats was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Jat stir has badly hit rail movement with protesters squatting on rail tracks disrupting movement of trains in various parts of north India. Jats had threatened to cut all essential supplies to Delhi if their demands were not met by March 17.
