The 72-hour deadline that Jat leaders had given the Haryana government to fulfil their demands for a quota ends on Thursday. Anticipating a repeat of the violence that paralysed the state last month, the Centre has decided to deploy 16 companies of paramilitary forces to eight sensitive districts including Rohtak and Jhajjar.

According to The Indian Express, the Jat quota Bill is likely to be tabled in the state Assembly on Thursday. The Manohar Lal Khattar-government on Wednesday asked deputy commissioners to decide on ordering schools and colleges to close after assessing the law and order situation in their respective districts. PTI reported that colleges in Rohtak will remain closed from Friday. The colleges were scheduled to break for holidays from March 20 to 27, but their officials met the deputy commissioner seeking his permission to shut them early.

The Jats have threatened to resume their agitation if the ruling BJP government does not grant them reservation by March 17. They have asked the CM to immediately grant them 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, withdraw criminal cases against protestors during last month’s agitation and take action against BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini for allegedly making anti-Jat remarks. Community members will meet Jat dharamshalas across the state on Thursday to decide on their next steps.