The national Capital is fully geared up this time around to thwart the agitation that the Jat groups have threatened to intensify by breaching the borders and gheraoing Parliament. The Centre has asked police forces of Delhi and its neighbouring States to stop the agitators before they reach the borders of the city and the Metro trains will also not travel beyond the city’s borders from 11.30 pm onwards on Sunday.
The restrictions under which the 12 stations in Central Delhi will be shut from 8 pm till further orders, are going to throw life out of gear. However, the officials have maintained that these measures are in order to keep the agitators at bay.
In an advisory, the Union Home Ministry told the Delhi Police and the Governments of Haryana, UP and Rajasthan to invoke Section 144 of CrPC to stop Jat protesters, who have threatened to stage protests in Delhi demanding reservations in jobs and education.
“Arrest or detain the protesters much before they enter Delhi, disallow movement of buses carrying the protesters on highways and ban tractor trolley movement,” the advisory said.
Top Home Ministry officials also reviewed the security situation in the national Capital and neighbouring States in the wake of threat by the Jats.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi took stock of the law and order situation in Delhi, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan on Wednesday with senior police officials of the four States.
He instructed the officials to ensure peace and prevent attempts to disrupt normal life during the protests.
The restriction-affected Metro stations will be Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, lok Kalyan Marg, Janpath, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, RK Ashram Marg, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market and Shivaji stadium.
However, interchange facility will be available at all the interchange stations. As directed by Delhi Police, services will not be available at Yellow line stations at Gurgaon, Blue line stations at Noida and Violet line stations at Faridabad.
“The services to all these stations will be resumed only after getting clearance from Delhi Police,” a senior Metro official said.
Meanwhile, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Saturday also issued an advisory for students of classes X and XII appearing for examinations on Monday, in view of the same issue.
Students appearing for Class XII are having an important subject “Mathematic” scheduled on the same date.
“The students and parents are hereby informed and advised to take necessary measures to reach the examination centres well before the scheduled time to avoid any inconvenience in anticipation of the gherao,” the advisory said.
The exams scheduled for March 20 include, Class XII - (Mathematics, First Aid and Emergency Medical Care, Clinical Bio-chemistry and Microbiology-II, Microbiology (MlT), Health Centre Management, Opthalmic Techniques-II, Radiography-II (Special Investigation Imaging Radiography) and Class X - (Painting, Spanish and Russian).
Delhi Police also advised students and entrance exam aspirants to start before time so that they do not get stuck owing to the heavy checking and the blockades. “Under no circumstances, any kind of dharna, violent protest will be allowed in Delhi. We have put adequate security and safety measures in place and tractor-trolleys will not be allowed to enter Delhi from border areas,” said Dependra Pathak, chief spokesperson, Delhi Police and Special Commissioner of Police (operations).
A three-tier security will be in place with 110 companies of external force assisting Delhi Police in maintaining vigil. “All the checkings will be in place and there might be inconvenience for children and entrance exam aspirants. It is advised that those who are appearing for CBSE exams or for other entrance exams should keep a track of time,” he added.
From 11 PM on Sunday, entry to lutyens Delhi will be restricted and persons fulfilling certain criterion will only be allowed entry after proper verification and checking.
Bonafide residents, employees working in offices situated in lutyens Delhi, emergency vehicles, entrance exam candidates, ambulance, hearse van, fire brigade, school buses and those who have come to the area for some work will only be allowed entry after furnishing proof, said another officer.
“New Delhi will not be used as transit point for people going from North to South Delhi or vice-versa. Commuters wishing to travel from south Delhi to central Delhi are advised to use Ring Road,” said Delhi Traffic Police in an advisory.
All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti (AIJASS), which is spearheading the agitation demanding reservations in education and jobs, has given a call for a march to the national capital to ‘gherao’ Parliament and to hold ‘dharnas’ on the Delhi border blocking all highways, to force the authorities for considering their demands.