Agra lawyers to form human chain, vow to not let Obama see Taj Mahal

Mathura: Lawyers of western Uttar Pradesh have said they will not allow US President Barack Obama to enter Agra on 27 January unless the Central government assures them that they will establish a separate bench of the Allahabad High Court in the region. According to a Times of India report, more than 12,000 lawyers have threatened to form a “‘human wall” to deter US President Barack Obama from visiting the Taj Mahal". “If Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives assurance that by January 26 there will be a separate bench of Allahabad High Court in western UP, there will be no blockage for Obama to enter Agra on January 27,” District President of Bar Association, Mathura, Vijay Pal Singh Tomar said after attending a mahapanchayat of advocates of western UP. He said that courts in western UP would remain closed till 27 January. [caption id=“attachment_2054977” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Will Obama be thwarted by lawyers? AFP[/caption] There has been a long-standing demand for a separate Bench of the High Court in western UP in view of the inconvenience faced by litigants belonging to other regions of the state. Meanwhile according to another  Times of India report, “an unspecified Delhi-Agra road will secured as an emergency backup for US President Barack Obama’s visit to the Taj Mahal, in the event of his jet failing to take off due to bad weather or any other reason.” The report adds that “the highway will be closed to normal traffic and security personnel will line up the highway.” Even as the reports come of the agitation by the lawyers, the US Secret Service is not happy with the security arrangements for Obama. According to an earlier report , US authorities reportedly wanted a no-fly zone imposed over Rajpath even for the Republic Day function but India denied the request saying it was traditional to have the Indian Air Force fly past. Other security measures taken for Obama include a seven-layer security ring around the VVIP enclosure on Rajpath for the Republic Day parade to be witnessed by US President Barack Obama and the airspace over the area would be monitored by a radar to be specially set up. Central Security agencies have brought in their Concealed Anti-Terrorists (CAT) squads to the national capital who form part of teams that carry out surprise checks at hotels, guest houses and vulnerable localities. The ITC Maurya hotel, where the US President will be staying, has been taken over by the Secret Services personnel and multi-frequency control room manned by the US officials have been set up. American security personnel will also be part of the teams manning the control rooms set up to watch footage of nearly 15,000 CCTVs installed in the capital. The US security staff isn’t too happy about Obama being in outdoor setting for two hours, when the maximum time the US President normally spends outside is 45 minutes. With security being a top priority for the US Secret Service, the news of Agra lawyers threatening an agitation, will add to their list of problems. With inputs from PTI