Khattar holds talks with agitating Jat leaders Ahead of March to Delhi

New Delhi: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday held talks with the agitating Jat leaders ahead of their planned march to Parliament.

The march which is scheduled to take place on Monday is part of agitation by Jat groups from the state to push their case for reservations.

Massive security arrangements have been put in place by authorities in the national capital to deal with the march.

"The protests will be peaceful. For 50 days our protests were peaceful .We have made seven demands and we are here to meet the CM and others with a positive frame of mind,” Malik said.

"We believe that talks will provide solution to the issues... but we will decide our future course of action based on the outcome of the meeting," he added.

Malik was accompanied by a group of 60-70 representatives of various khaps (sub-sects) of the Jat community. Besides Khattar, Union Cabinet Minister Birender Singh was among those present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, four police officials, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, were injured on Sunday in Fatehabad district in Haryana when Delhi-bound Jat community protesters clashed with them. The police force was trying to stop them from moving towards Delhi. The clash took place on the Sirsa-Hisar-Delhi highway when the protesters, who were on tractor-trolleys, were stopped.

In view of the planned march prohibitory orders have been clamped in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to stop Jat protesters from entering Delhi and about 24,700 paramilitary personnel have been mobilizes to maintain peace. Metro and road transport has been curtailed and several schools have been closed in the national capital.

Metro trains will not travel beyond the city's borders from 11.30 PM while 12 stations in Central Delhi will be shut from 8 PM till further orders.

The AIJASS, which is spearheading the agitation demanding reservations in education and government jobs, has given a call for a march to the national capital to gherao Parliament and to hold dharnas on the Delhi border blocking all highways to press for its demands.