Thaindian News

Nagla (Punjab), April 17 (IANS) Perched 30 feet above ground on a eucalyptus tree, Avtar Singh Nagla, a politician from Punjab, chews on roasted nuts as a battery of media persons, policemen and supporters wait in anticipation of his next move.

Avtar, who climbed the tree Friday morning, is insisting he will not alight till Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal comes personally to listen to his grievance.

And though he may not be garnering overwhelming support from across the country like crusader Anna Hazare, Avtar, in his late 30s, has an army of villagers in his support.

His supporters are offering tea and snacks to people flocking to see him.

Avtar has made all provisions for his highly-placed protest - water bottles, eatables including a stock of roasted nuts, and a mobile phone. He’s also armed with an axe, in case someone tries to climb up and try to disturb him in his protest.

Even though Avtar has not got an audience with the chief minister, residents of nearby villages are chipping in with full support.

One of is supporters also provided him a cot (makeshift bed) to sleep at night. So far, he has been making optimum of use of plastic bottles and polythene bags to relieve himself.

“I will continue my protest and not come down till the chief minister comes here. If he is the true representative of public, then why is he shying away from us,” Avtar, who unsuccessfully contested the 2007 assembly elections, told IANS Sunday.

“The state government had given several acres of land here on lease to a paper mill company so as to provide employment to the villagers. But the mill owners sold the land to a property dealer at very high prices. I want that land back,” he said.

Thanks to Avtar, the little-known Nagla village, located around 15 km from Chandigarh on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway, has seen a lot action during the last two days, with senior administration and police officials descending here to convince him to come down.

Besides journalists, both print and electronic media, and OB (outdoor broadcasting) vans are making rounds of this village, throughout the day, in pursuit of some breaking news.

Scores of Avtar’s supporters from nearby villages and towns are also coming in huge numbers. His supporters have erected a tent near the tree and offering hot tea and snacks to the visitors.

“We all respect Avtar and want him to continue the protest. Living up to true Punjabi spirit, we are offering tea and snacks to the visitors. This is his fight against corruption that is deep-rooted in Punjab, and we all have to make his attempt successful,” said Sarabjot Singh, one of his supporters.

Sher Singh, another supporter, said: “The state government is ignorant towards the plight of the common man. It is the desperate attempt of our leader to seek their attention. We would also supply him food.”

“We are also happy that so many senior officials and journalists are coming to our village. We hope that this could turn around the fortunes of our village,” said Paritam Singh, a villager here in Zirakpur town of Mohali district.

Local administration and police officials have several times tried to convince Avtar to come down, but all their efforts have gone in vain.

“This is not the way to protest and meeting the chief minister this way is not possible. If he has some problem, then he can directly approach us,” Dera Bassi Sub-Divisional Magistrate Puneet Goyal said.

Referring to Avtar’s complaint, he said: “He is talking about a land dispute of 1971. Though Saturday was a holiday, we collected the old documents and went through them. Everything was settled and we even took those proofs with us to the spot but he is very adamant.”

Halogen lights have been installed around the tree and a heavy police force has been deployed in the area.

“We have deployed our officials on the spot to keep keep an eye on his activities. I have myself checked the matter and it was amicably solved at that time (in 1971),” said Yogi Raj, station house officer of Zirakpur.

(Alkesh Sharma can be contacted alkesh.s@ians.in)