The protesters are demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category. (PTI photo)
The Jat community demanding reservations under the Other Backward Class or OBC category continued their protests for the third day in Haryana on Wednesday, severely affecting the rail and road traffic.
The protests have prompted the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to announce enhancement of the quota of reservation for Economically Backward Classes in the state from 10 to 20 per cent.
The protesters are demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category.
Jat and Khap leaders including Hawa Singh Sangwan, Sudeep Kalkal, Mahender Singh Mor and Santosh Dahiya held a four-hour long meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, in which state finance minister Abhimanyu, Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar and State BJP President Subhash Barala were also present.
Later, Mr Khattar announced to enhance the quota of reservation in government jobs and admission in educational institutions for Economically Backward Classes in the state from 10 to 20 per cent.
He also announced to enhance the annual income ceiling from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh so that maximum people can get benefit under this category.
The Chief Minister announced this while addressing a meeting of Jat and Khap leaders, an official spokesperson said.
Mr Khattar said that in the today's meeting a "broad consensus" was reached between the government and the Jat leaders over the reservation issue.
He also announced that the Committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to study all aspects of the reservations for Special Backward Classes and to suggest the best way forward, would submit its report before the forthcoming budget session of State Assembly next month.
Mr Khattar said the committee would consider all suggestions including that of bringing in an appropriate bill in this regard.
All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti's national president, Yashapal Malik, said the government has given its proposal, "but the people are not that happy. However, its result will be known in a day or two (whether the protests will continue or end)."
During the day, the protests spread from Rohtak-Jhajjar region to Sonipat, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad and Jind districts, with large number of women also joining the protests.
A group of lawyers joined in the protests at Sonipat, and a large number of students held a protest in Rohtak.