As Mayawati backs Jats, 700 trains hit over nine days
Sanjay Singh Posted online: Mon Mar 14 2011, 09:19 hrs
Lucknow : On the ninth day of a Jat agitation disrupting train
movement in several parts of north India, 52 trains were cancelled
today. Of these trains was the flagship Lucknow Mail, cancelled for
the first time in decades. However, even as the number of disruptions
on the Moradabad rail division now numbers 325 cancellations and 197
diversions, the Mayawati government seems to be in no hurry to clear
the tracks.
On the contrary, claims Chief Public Relations Officer (PRO) of
Northern Railways Manish Tewari, their several letters to Uttar
Pradesh Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta to end the crisis, even
appeals on the phone to the Cabinet Secretary, had done nothing to
help restore railway traffic.
While officials are tightlipped, few doubt the reason behind their
hesitation to act against Jats agitating for 27 per cent reservation
in Central jobs under the OBC category. Chief Minister Mayawati has
extended the BSP's support to the Jat demands, though she had appealed
to them not to create a law and order problem.
Politically, the support to the agitation serves two purposes for the
BSP. It helps counter Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh's grip over
the Jat voters, while simultaneously creating problems for the
Congress.
During the farmer agitation in Tappal near Aligarh over land
acquisition for the Yamuna Expressway and a township, Rahul Gandhi had
visited the farmers, expressed solidarity with them and taken a
delegation to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"Now it is the BSP's turn to settle scores by supporting this
agitation," said a party leader.
Meanwhile, the Railways counts its losses, which till today already
amount to more than Rs 1 crore. The important trains that have badly
suffered due to the agitation include Ala Hazrat, Kath Godam, Kashi
Vishwanath, Ferozpur-Bombay central, Awadh Assam, Nauchandi (all
express trains) and Lucknow Mail.
Apart from the cancellations and diversions, about 200 trains have
been short-terminated. Three trains are expected to remain cancelled
tomorrow and six trains will be diverted.
Goods trains have also been badly hit as the route that the Jats have
blocked is important for their movement. "The movement of containers
that originate from the NSPT (Nhava Sheva Port Trust) in Mumbai has
come to a complete halt," said an official.
The supply of coal to power houses situated in different parts of the
country has also been hit. "Barwala power house that is located in
Haryana's Hissar district is facing a serious problem. All the three
available rail routes which connect this power house are hit by the
agitation," another official said.
"Railway authorities are in constant touch with top officials of UP
government," said Chief PRO of Northern Railways Tewari. "Since law
and order is a state subject, I don't think UP government needs to be
prompted to end the crisis."
Asked about this, UP Principal Secretary (Home) Kunwar Fateh Bahadur
refused to comment. "Better you speak to our Information Department. I
don't interact with the press," he said.
Yashpal Mallik, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Jat Aarakshan
Sangharsha Samiti (ABJSS), said Jats had only occupied properties
under the control of the Centre. "I am happy that behan Mayawatiji has
supported our demand," he said.
"We have launched similar agitations in Haryana, Punjab and Jammu and
Kashmir. UP has included Jats in the list of OBCs, but the other
states have not."
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