Thousands of people of the Tyagi community gathered in Gejha village of Gautam Bhuddha Nagar on Sunday to demand justice for jailed politician Shrikant Tyagi and his family.
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The mahapanchayat, organised under the banner of Sanyukt Tyagi Swabhiman Morcha, made the “disproportionate action against Tyagi and his family” a matter of community’s pride.
Supporters felicitated
It was addressed by Mr. Tyagi’s wife Anu Tyagi, and six supporters of Mr. Tyagi, who were arrested by the Noida Police for entering into the society without permission, were felicitated during the meeting. Gejha happens to be the native village of Ms. Tyagi. Rashtriya Lok Dal and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait’s) support added to the groundswell.
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A 14-point memorandum was given to Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate Suhas L.Y. The demands included dropping the Gangster Act against Mr. Tyagi, withdrawing the case against the six youth of the community who were arrested from the Noida society, reconstruction of the structure brought down by the Noida Authority, return of impounded cars of Tyagi, suspending police officials who took Ms. Tyagi into custody for interrogation and dismissing local MP and former Minister Mahesh Sharma from the party.
The panchayat gave a 15-day ultimatum to the administration and the party.
District Magistrate Suhas L.Y. receiving the memorandum from the community members. Photo: Special Arrangement
Earlier, Ms. Tyagi made an emotional appeal to the community to save her and her family from injustice.
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Lokendra Tyagi, one of the six supporters of Tyagi who were sent to jail, read out Mr. Tyagi’s message at the meeting. “You would have seen many gangsters becoming political leaders, but if you have to see a politician being turned into a gangster, take a look at Shrikant Tyagi,” he said.
A self-styled politician who allegedly carried a sticker of BJP MLA on his car, Mr. Tyagi was booked under the Gangsters Act, and charges of molestation, criminal intimidation and cheating were invoked against him after he allegedly abused and assaulted a fellow resident in a posh Noida society on August 5.
The woman, identified as Ila Agrawal, had questioned him on encroaching the open area. After the video of the incident went viral, local MP and former Minister Dr Mahesh Dr. Sharma raised the issue with higher officials in Lucknow. The following day, a bulldozer of the Noida Authority brought down the alleged illegal structure.
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After a manhunt, Mr. Tyagi was arrested on August 9 from Meerut and was sent to judicial custody and has been denied bail since then. Six of his supporters of Tyagi were also arrested for allegedly entering the society without permission to create pressure on the complainant.
Meanwhile, the issue took a political turn, as members of the Tyagi community accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of taking the community’s support for granted and said the action against Mr. Tyagi was not commensurate with the crime he committed. They sought action against Dr. Sharma for letting the community down.
Posters and slogans, saying ‘these children are not alone’ and ‘our sister is not alone’, were raised during the panchayat. Photo: Special Arrangement
Rashtriya Lok Dal and Bharatiya Kisan Union also came out in support of the community that comprises Brahmins, whose primary occupation for centuries has been agriculture. Once upon a time, they supported the Chaudhary Charan Singh-led Lok Dal but after the Ayodhya movement, they gradually shifted towards the BJP.
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Trilok Tyagi, RLD’s national general secretary of RLD, who attended the meeting said, “The party doesn’t support Mr. Tyagi. He is like any other street-level BJP worker who is blinded by power. He should face the law for using inappropriate language. I went there to support his family and children.”
Mr. Trilok alleged that Mr. Tyagi’s wife and another woman of the family were kept in custody for three days. The power connection of their flat was cut off. Psychological pressure and indecent language were used against them by the officials under the influence of the local MP.
The Noida Police has denied the charge of manhandling and using inappropriate language against Mr. Tyagi’s wife.
‘Used as vote bank’
Mr. Trilok said Tyagis were predominantly agriculturists but started “voting like Hindus” after the Ram Temple movement. “Now they are realising that they were being used as vote bank,” he told The Hindu.
Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan said Mr. Shrikant Tyagi should face the law but his family should not be made to suffer for his transgressions. “We understand the anguish of the members of the Tyagi community and will talk to them to pacify them.”
The Noida Police made massive arrangements in the district. Security was increased at Dr. Sharma’s hospital and residence and the Grand Omaxe Society. Residents of the society put up posters saying: “United Residents Against Injustice”.