Massive stir outside Taj on Agra HC bench demand

Several hundred lawyers from the Agra and Aligarh divisions today held a demonstration outside Taj Mahal to press for the setting up of a Allahabad High Court bench in the city.
The agitating lawyers were joined by volunteers from various political parties, trade and commercial organisations, doctors, teachers and others.
A number of legislators and former Uttar Pradesh ministers were also at hand to support the lawyers.
Launching today's demonstration, the lawyers first gathered outside the offices of the Agra Divisional Commissioner before marching to Purani Mandi crossing where they held a meeting.
The demonstrators later submitted a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to ADM (Agra city), BP Khare.

Some lawyers tried to reach Taj from Kacchhpura village and Mehtab Bagh at the back of the monument, but they were stopped by policemen who, however, made no arrests.
Secretary of the joint action committee on the separate bench demand, Arun Solanki, told PTI that the gherao of the Taj had been successful as the aim of the protesters had been to focus the public and government's attention on their demand.