Thousands of Jats (a dominant community in the western UP) have occupied the rail tracks on this busy route demanding reservation for them in the central government jobs since Saturday. Over fifty trains, including some long distance trains, have been diverted via Kanpur as a result of the agitation, which has brought the rail traffic to a complete halt in the section.
The `jats' have been cooking food and holding musical programmes on the tracks. ``We will not leave the place until our demands are met'' said Upendra Singh, a leader of the `Jat Sangharsh Samiti', which is spearheading the agitation.
“We will remain here with our families and it will be our home,” the leader said.
Singh said that the `samiti' would resort to rail blockade throughout the country if there was no response from the union government on their demands.
He said that the `jats' have been getting reservation in government jobs in many states but the same was not being accorded to them in the central government jobs. “We want reservation for Punjabi Jats, Kashmiri Jats and Muslim Jats also,” he added. Northern railway sources said that many trains had to be cancelled owing to the agitation while several others were diverted from other routes.
Security personnel in strength had been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure though the agitators have made it clear that their `struggle' was peaceful.