As Mayawati backs Jats,700 trains hit over nine days

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.”