Jat agitators threaten to cut off Delhi

The All India Jat Arakshan Samiti has announced that they would continue their agitation and take legal opinion on the high court order which has directed state and central governments to forcibly clear the railway tracks occupied by the community.

Blaming the central government for the crisis, samiti president Yashpal Mallik told reporters that Jats would remain on tracks at Kafurpur in Uttar Pradesh, where they have been blocking rail traffic for the past 15 days.

"We are ready to face anything in case the government decides to use force," he said.

Emphasising that the court's directive is a blessing in disguise for Jats, Mallik said, "Now the state, the Centre and Jats can sit together for a solution. The Centre has been overlooking our demands for the past 20 years."

He further said that Jats have no complaints with the state government as they already have Other Backward Class status in UP since 2000.

He also said that for the past three years, members of the Jat community have been agitating peacefully but they have only got assurances from the government.

The Jat Panchayat also decided that they would not block other routes till March 20 in view of Holi.

 If the demand is not met by then, we will block all rail and road routes to Delhi, cutting off oil, food and water supply on March 21," warned Mallik.

The Jats are demanding reservation in the OBC category in central services. They have the backing of the pro-Dalit Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh, which has refused to evict the Jats from the tracks.

On Thursday, 56 trains were cancelled, 29 short-terminated and 15 diverted. The Kafurpur blockade has affected trains plying between Delhi to Uttrakhand, UP, Bihar, Northeast and West Bengal.

According to railway sources, nearly 654 trains have been cancelled between March 5 and March 17, around 231 short-terminated and route of 401 diverted. Over 7.47 lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets in the past 13 days. The Railways has refunded over Rs 5.07 lakh to passengers.