The Jat reservation protest entered its second day in Bharatpur and Dholpur, with State Minister Jawahar Singh Bedham addressing the gathering to assure government support. Minister Bedham stated that the Rajasthan government is committed to the cause of the Jats, and ongoing efforts for the Jat reservation are in progress at the central level.
He emphasized that the government stands with the Jat community and urged them to reconsider the protest, assuring them that their demands for reservation in Bharatpur and Dholpur are acknowledged. The minister acknowledged a few legal complexities that need resolution and promised swift action.
Despite these assurances, the Jat community issued a final warning, setting a deadline of January 22 for the government to meet their demands. If not met, they threaten to uproot railway tracks, leading to blockades on the Delhi-Mumbai railway tracks and roads. The situation may escalate into violence.
In response to potential disruptions, the Railway Department has increased security on the Delhi-Mumbai railway tracks. A total of 52 personnel from the Railway Protection Force and 78 personnel from the Government Railway Police have been deployed at various railway stations. The Railway Intelligence Bureau is actively monitoring the protesters and their plans, with the option to bring in more police force if needed.
The demand for Other Backward Class (OBC) reservations for Jats in Bharatpur and Dholpur dates back to 1998. In 2013, the United Progressive Alliance government provided OBC reservations for Jats in these regions. However, the Supreme Court cancelled the reservation in 2015, challenging its validity.
Despite a subsequent grant of OBC reservation in 2017 by the Rajasthan government, the central government is yet to confirm the reservation, leading to the ongoing protest that commenced in Jaycholi village on Wednesday.
