Western Uttar Pradesh

The population of Western Uttar Pradesh is composed of a varied set of communities and tribes, including Jats, Rajputs, Kayasthas, Tyagis, Ahirs, Brahmins, Kachhi, Kahar, Gadaria, Kumhar, Bania, Khatik, Lodha, Valmikis, Nai, Gurjars, Jatav, Kurmis and Rohilla Pashtuns.[7]

The unique setup of Western UP arises largely from the dominance of intermediate castes engaged in agriculture like the Tyagis, Jats , Yadavs, Gurjars, Gadariyas and Rajputs , the region in 1980s and 1990s was witness to the sugarcane mafia led by the above mentioned communities.[8][9] Yadavs have very small presence in this region.[10]

Various sources claims different data regarding caste population of this area. According to Patrika in an old article Brahmins with Tyagis are 17 % in West UP.[11] Jats make up 17-18% in the western region, also called UP's Jatland.[12][13]

As per 2011 Census, the total population of Western Uttar Pradesh is 71,217,132, out of which 72.29% is Hindu and 26.21% is Muslim.[6] The population in Khariboli region is 29,669,035, (Hindu 59.19% and Muslim 39.17%) and the population of Braj region is 29,754,755 (Hindu 82.78% and Muslim 16%). Muslim population share in eight districts of Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Meerut and Bareilly has increased from 29.93% in 1951 to 40.43% in 2011. This has been point of contention in politics with demands for population control bill being raised from Hindu groups.

The percentage of Muslims in Western Uttar Pradesh (~26%) is higher than the whole state of Uttar Pradesh (where it is 19.3%).[14][15] Out of 77 assembly seats in this region, Muslim candidates won 26 seats in the 2012 assembly elections.[16] Several communities are bi-religious.[17]

The region's Rohillas are descended from immigrant groups from centuries ago, and a large subregion of Western Uttar Pradesh, Rohilkhand, takes its name from that Pashtun tribe.[18]

Sikhs from West Punjab, who came from Pakistan after partition, also migrated to the area in large numbers.[19]

Western Uttar Pradesh has gained notoriety for accounting for 30 per cent of the total honor killings in the country, according to a survey done by AIDWA.[20]

Western Uttar Pradesh shares borders with the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, as well as a brief international border with Nepal in Pilibhit district. Major cities and towns include Baghpat, Bareilly, Badaun, Agra, Mathura, Moradabad, Sambhal, Amroha, Ghaziabad, Noida, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Hapur, Saharanpur, Aligarh, Hathras, Kasganj, Muzaffarnagar, Rampur, Shahjahanpur, Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Shamli, Bijnor, Najibabad, Farrukhabad, Etawah and Auraiya.

In Uttar Pradesh, "the cultural divide between the east and the west is considerable, with the purabiyas (easterners) often being clubbed with Biharis."[30] Also, while the green revolution resulted in a rapidly rising standard of living in Western Uttar Pradesh, Eastern Uttar Pradesh (like Bihar) did not benefit to the same extent.[31][32] These cultural and economic disparities are believed to have fueled the demand for separate statehood in Western Uttar Pradesh.[33][34] A separate entity would likely become a prosperous smaller state similar to Haryana and Punjab, under greater political control of local ethnic groups.[35]

Some politicians and parties have demanded that Western Uttar Pradesh be granted statehood under the name Harit Pradesh.[36] Braj Pradesh and Pashchim Pradesh are alternative names that have been proposed, because the region incorporates the historic region of Braj and is the western (pashchim in Hindi) part of Uttar Pradesh respectively.[36][37]

Jigar gate in Moradabad, named for the famous Urdu poet Jigar Moradabadi.

Western Uttar Pradesh has a history of religious riots happening frequently.[38] Many Hindu and Muslim riots happened in Meerut and Muzaffarnagar.[39] Beginning on 27 August 2013, clashes between the Hindu and Muslim communities of the Muzaffarnagar district have claimed 43 lives and injured 93.[40][41][42][43]

A girl from the Hindu Jat community was stalked by a Muslim youth in Kawal village.[44][45] In retaliation, a Muslim youth named Shahnawaz Qureshi[46] was killed by two brothers of the girl, Sachin Singh and Gaurav Singh.[47][48] The two brothers were lynched by a Muslim mob when they were trying to escape.[48]

Another major riot in Meerut took place on 22 May 1987, during the Hindu-Muslim riots in Meerut city in Uttar Pradesh state, India, when 19 personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) allegedly rounded up 42 Muslim youth from the Hashimpura mohalla (locality) of the city, took them in truck to the outskirts, near Murad Nagar, in Ghaziabad district, where they were shot, and their bodies were dumped in water canals. A few days later, dead bodies were found floating in the canals. In May 2000, 16 of the 19 accused surrendered, and were later released on bail, while 3 were already dead. The trial of the case was transferred by the Supreme Court of India in 2002 from Ghaziabad to a Sessions Court at the Tis Hazari complex in Delhi,[49] where it is the oldest pending case.

A Riot broke out in Kanth Village of Moradabad on 27 June 2014, over installation of loudspeakers at a religious place, which was objected to by another community. The tension prevailed for over a week accompanied by frequent clashes.[50] Another riot occurred between the Sikh and Muslim communities in Saharanpur over a land dispute, killing three and injuring many people.[51] As much as 13 companies of the Rapid Action Force, the PAC and CRPF were conveyed by the government to take control of the situation after imposing curfew in riot-hit areas of Saharanpur.

Major highways running through the region include NH 2, NH 3, NH 11, NH 24, NH 58, NH 73, NH 74, NH 87, NH 91, NH 93, NH 119, NH 235, NH 709A, NH 709B, NH 709AD,

Noida Greater Noida Expressway

Yamuna Expressway

Agra Lucknow Expressway

Eastern Peripheral Expressway

Delhi-Meerut Expressway

Ganga Expressway.