Jat agitation: Vijender Singh pleads with "jat brothers" to end protests

Concerned about the violence that has engulfed his home state Haryana owing to the jat agitation for reservation, star Indian boxer Vijender Singh on Sunday appealed for peace.

Vijender, who is gearing up to fight his fourth professional bout on March 12 in Liverpool, posted a video message on his Twitter page to plead for calm. "I appeal to my Jat brothers to maintain peace and brotherhood in Haryana. It is absolutely essential for us, our families, our state and our country," Vijender said in a brief message.

The 30-year-old belongs to the Kaluwas village in Bhiwani, which has also been severely affected by the violence during the agitation. Jats are demanding reservation and despite various leaders, including the Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar, appealing to them to maintain peace, there was no let up in the protests which have disrupted normal life in Rohtak, Jind, Jhajjar, Sonipat and Hisar.