Banner at Tyagi mahapanchayat calls for ban on BJP leaders’ entry into their villages

NOIDA: Thousands of Tyagi community members held a mahapanchyat (large congregation) at Ramlila Maidan in Noida’s Sector 110 on Sunday to protest against the arrest of Shrikant Tyagi, the BJP leader who assaulted a woman at a housing society in Noida.

The large congregation, held in support of self-proclaimed local politician Shrikant Tyagi, issued a 15 day ultimatum to the administration for the release of their leaders. The protesters issued a boycott call. At the entry of the village which announced the mahapanchayat, a banner read, “Humare gaon mein BJP netaon ka pravesh band hai (Entry of BJP leaders is prohibited in our village,” reported PTI. Shrikant Tyagi. They accused the saffron party of “leaving” the upcoming leader. They alleged that the probe against Shrikant Tyagi is one-sided and has been blown out of proportion. As a result, the Tyagi community has decided to boycott the BJP, say many during the panchayat. At the entry of the village which announced the mahapanchayat, a banner read, “Humare gaon mein BJP netaon ka pravesh band hai (Entry of BJP leaders is prohibited in our village,” reported PTI.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police deployed additional personnel in and around the protest site to maintain law and order.

Ahead of the mahapanchyat, the state had beefed up the security in the city with hundreds of policemen and rapid action force (RAF) personnel deployed over law and order concerns ahead of the mahapanchayat. Noida Traffic Police also issued a traffic diversion plan for commuters in view of the planned congregation as scores of people landed in cars, motorcycles, and tractors from parts of western UP for the mahapanchayat, reported Hindustan Times.

Shrikant Tyagi came to limelight after a video of him abusing a woman went viral, triggering widespread outrage. He was arrested on August 9 from Meerut after he remained absconding for four days. After the video of the altercation went viral, the BJP distanced itself from Tyagi and said that he was never even a member. Apart from sharing the stage with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself, Tyagi has photos with over a dozen BJP leaders, including the party president JP Nadda himself.

The Tyagi community is said to be angry with Gautam Buddh Nagar parliamentarian and BJP leader Mahesh Sharma over his role during the Shrikant Tyagi episode earlier this month.

–INDIA NEWS STREAM