Jat protests hit life in western UP
Road blocked in Muz’nagar, train traffic hit in Agra and Mathura
The Jats of western Uttar Pradesh on Sunday hit the road in support of their Haryana clansmen agitating over the quota issue and staged a symbolic road blockade at various places here. The heat of the protest also spilled over into areas of Agra and Mathura too.
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) activists also demonstrated at the residence of union minister of state for agriculture Sanjeev Balyan in Muzaffarnagar and demanded that quota demand of Jats must be accepted. On Sunday, as per the declared schedule, after the meeting of khap chaudharies in Sauram village of Shahpur, the Jats blocked roads for three hours at various places. The jam started at 11am and concluded at 2 pm. In Mansoorpur, the agitators blocked the Delhi- Dehradun national highway under BKU leader Chandrapal Fauzi while at Naola Kothi, BKU district president Raju Ahlawat led the protesters.
Later, BKU spokesman Rakesh Tikait also reached there. The national highway was also blocked at Chhapaar area and Bhuraheri check post in Purkazi area. Irate Jat youths burnt the effigy of the PM at Pachenda bypass.
On the outskirts, some people also blocked road in Budhana, Shahpur and Sanjhak villages while some others blocked the overbridge of Ganga canal to close the route to pilgrim centre Shukratall.
In Agra, the protestors blocked the Yamuna Expressway and AgraDelhi National Highway -2 for hours. The Agra-Jaipur highway was also blocked.
Incidentally, the protest reached Mathura when union home minister Rajnath Singh was in Vrindavan to attend a programme. Reportedly while addressing the party workers, Singh appealed to Jat leaders to have patience as the Centre was working to resolve the issue soon.
On Sunday, the protestors reached Raya Interchange at Yamuna Expressway in Mathura and blocked the road. The jam continued for about an hour before the Mahawan SDM reached the spot to receive the memorandum. The leaders of the RLD and Bharatiya Kisan Union led the protest. These protestors had earlier demonstrated at BJP office in Mathura.
The police and administration remained on their toes as the protestors reached the national highway linking Agra with Delhi. The highway was jammed near Navada. There was disruption in train traffic too as train movement was blocked in Palwal town of Haryana. Trains moving towards Delhi were left stranded at Mathura, Kosi and Chhata railway stations.