Jat Row: Metro Services to be Normal, Some Restrictions to Remain

The Delhi Police had earlier issued a traffic advisory listing routes and entry points closed to the public.

File photo of Jat agitation at its peak. (Photo: PTI)

With Jats calling off their agitation, Delhi Metro on Sunday announced that its services will return to normal on Monday with restrictions on exit at some stations.

On Monday, metro stations in Gurgaon, Noida and Faridabad will remain open as usual, but the commuters will not be allowed to exit at Yellow Line's four stations, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhavan and Lok Kalyan Marg.

However, entry will be allowed at these stations, an advisory by Delhi Metro stated.

Delhi Metro, buses and local trains will operate as usual. However, security arrangements will remain as they are.

Dependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police

Also Read: Jat Agitation Held Off For 15 Days After CM’s Meet With Protesters

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday held talks with the agitating Jat leaders from the state on the quota issue.

Later, All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) chaiperson Yashpal Malik said:

Our agitation and march towards Delhi has been called off.

Security Arrangements to Remain in Force in Delhi

Despite the Jat agitation being called off, the security arrangements will remain in force till next orders, police said on Sunday.

“The security arrangements at the borders and New Delhi area will remain there till next orders. It will be uplifted only after monitoring the situation,” said Dependra Pathak, special commissioner of police (Operations) and Delhi Police chief spokesperson.

“We have made security arrangements in three tiers, right from the borders to the New Delhi area,” he said.

Internet Services Restored in Sensitive Areas

Internet services, which had been suspended in many “sensitive” districts of Haryana, including Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Hisar, Sirsa, Bhiwani and Kaithal, were restored on Sunday evening.

The authorities had earlier suspended all internet services and bulk messaging facility on mobile networks till 9 am on Monday, in order to prevent rumour-mongering.

Liquor shops, which were to remain closed in the “sensitive” districts till 9 am on Monday as per the earlier orders, can now follow their regular timings, the spokesman said.

18 Cops Hurt After Clashes; CM Khattar Orders Probe

Eighteen police personnel, including an SP and a DSP, were among 35 injured on Sunday when Jat protesters clashed with police on being prevented from marching towards Delhi.

The protesters also allegedly set fire to two police buses during the clash that took place in Dhani Gopal village on Sirsa-Hisar-Delhi national highway.

Fatehabad's SP OP Narwal, who sustained minor injury on his hand, said that 18 police personnel, including two women, were injured in the incident.

“Three media persons have also suffered injuries. The protesters allegedly held them hostage for some time and damaged their equipment,” he said.

According to news reports, CM Manohar Khattar has asked for a probe into the incident.

What the Jats Want

Unhappy with the authorities over their demands and grievances going unaddressed, Jat protesters on Wednesday announced non-cooperation after Holi (13 March) and are taking their stir to Delhi from tomorrow. They gave a call for the march to besiege Parliament and to hold dharnas on the Delhi border, blocking all highways, to press for their demands for reservation.

Apart from reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, the Jats are demanding jobs to the next of kin of those killed in violence in the agitation last year, compensation to those injured, withdrawal of cases against them and action against officers who ordered action against the Jats.

Violence during the Jat agitation, in February 2016, claimed the lives of 30 people and injured around 200 people. Government and private property worth hundreds of crores of rupees was damaged.

After suspension of the Delhi Metro services were announced on Saturday night, the Delhi Police on Sunday issued a traffic advisory in view of the Jat agitation on 20 March. Here are the main points.

Traffic Routes Closed

The following routes will be completely closed for the public with effect from 8 pm on Sunday, 19 March.

• Kamal Ataturk from Race Course Metro Station to R/A Panchsheel Marg/Niti Marg
• Safdarjung Road from Aurobindo Marg to R/A GKP
• Kautilya Marg from Samrat R/A to Niti Marg, Kautilya T Point near Bihar Bhawan
• From Teen Murti to Gole Methi round about
• Zakir Hussain Road for the commuters coming from the Nizamuddin to the India Gate

The following entry points will be closed with effect from 11 am on Sunday.

• From Ring Road to San Martin Marg

• Amrita Shergill from Lodhi Road
• Max Mueller Marg from Lodhi Road
• Arch Bishop Macarious from Lodhi Road
• All lanes leading to Panchkuiya Road except Mandir Marg, RK Ashram Marg and Hospital Road

Commuters wishing to travel from South Delhi to Central Delhi and vice versa are advised to use the Ring Road route.

Entry to Lutyens’ Delhi Restricted After 11 pm

Entry to New Delhi District or Lutyens’ Delhi will be allowed to the following categories of people after proper verification and checking.

• Bonafide residents
• Employees working in various offices situated in the area of New Delhi DistricT
• Emergency services
• Candidates coming to attend interview/examination in the area of New Delhi District.
• Ambulance, Hearse Van, Fire Brigade
• Buses of School children
• Those who had come to this area for some work

New Delhi will not be used as transit for people going from North to South Delhi or vice versa.

For general public/commuters the following routes are available:

• North-South Corridor
• Ring Road- Ashram Chowk-Sarai Kale Khan-I.P. flyover-Rajghat-Ring Road
• Lala Lajpat Rai Marg- Mathura Road-Bhairon Road –Ring Road
• East West Corridor
• Ring Road-Boulward Road-Baraf Khana Chowk-Rani Jhansi Road-Faiz Road-D.B.G. Road
• Vikas Marg/Geeta Colony Flyover-Rajghat Crossing-Delhi Gate-J.L.N. Marg-D.B.G. Road.

Train Services Suspended

Prior to this, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced they would suspend its train services to and from all stations outside Delhi from 11:30 pm on Sunday.

Metro services will not be available at all Metro Stations outside Delhi (NCR stations) ie on Line -2 (Guru Dronacharya to Huda City Centre) on Line-3 and 4 (Kaushambi to Vaishali and Noida Sector-15 to Noida City Center) and on Line-6 (Sarai to Escorts Mujesar) from March 19, 11.30 p.m. onwards till further instructions from the police authorities.

CBSE Asks Students to Reach Exam Centres Before Time

In the wake of Jat agitation, the CBSE had advised students appearing for the Classes 10 and 12 Board exams to reach their exam centres well before the scheduled time.

Led by the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti (Aijass), groups of Jat community have announced a massive protest in the national capital, including a “siege” to the Parliament House complex, to press for their demand of reservation for the community in government jobs and educational institutions.

The Class 10 exams for painting, Spanish and Russian languages and Class 12 exams for Mathematics, First Aid and Emergency Medical Care, Clinical Bio-chemistry and Microbiology-II, Microbiology (MLT), Health Centre Management, Ophthalmic Techniques-II, Radiograhpy-II (Special Investigation Imaging Radiography) are scheduled for Monday.

Keeping in view the Jat stir, the students and parents are hereby informed and advised to take necessary measures to reach the examination centres well before the scheduled time to avoid any inconvenience in-anticipation to the gherao

CBSE Statement

(With inputs from media agencies.)