Congress Likely To Announce Proposal To End Gujjar Stir Over Reservation

Congress claimed that the party-led Rajasthan government is likely to announce a proposal on Wednesday to end the Gujjar community agitation for five per cent reservation in jobs and education as they continue to protest for the fifth day on Tuesday.

The agitators continued to block rail tracks and highways, causing inconvenience to common people. On Tuesday, they blockaded Chaksu town, about 40 km from Jaipur on National Highway 52, police said.

The blockades on the Agra-Jaipur-Bikaner National Highway-11 in Dausa district, a state highway in Nainwa of Bundi district, Malarna road in Sawai Madhopur and the Karauli-Hindaun road at Budla village in Karauli district continued.

"Apart from the routes that were blocked till yesterday, agitators have laid a blockade at Chaksu town of Jaipur district. No untoward incident has been reported so far. The law and order situation is under control," Director General of Police (Law and Order) M L Lathar said.

The North Western Railway informed through a bulletin that three trains were cancelled and two diverted on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot chaired two meetings Tuesday at the state secretariat to discuss the quota issue with ministers and other Congress leaders.

Though the deliberation of the meeting was not briefed officially, some Congress legislators indicated that the government will announce a proposal in the state assembly Wednesday, seeking to break the impasse.

"The chief minister is serious and the issue was discussed to find a solution and end the deadlock. There is unrest in the state and the country," Khetri MLA Jitendra Singh said.

Sports minister Ashok Chandna said, "Gujjar community members are on rail tracks and people are suffering. Definitely, a major solution will come up in the Assembly tomorrow."

A Congress legislator from Gujarat, Himmat Patel, also met Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla at the protest site on Malarna Dungar rail track to express his party's commitment in resolving the issues.

But the Gujjar leaders have refused to back off from the tracks and roads.

"We have not received any communication from the state government so far. Dharna will continue and we will not go back until the government hands over 5 per cent quota order," Vijay Bainsla, son of Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla, said.

Gujjar agitation leader Kirori Bainsla and his supporters began their indefinite sit-in on railway tracks in Malarna Dungar of Sawai Madhopur on Friday evening.

Bainsla has stuck to the demand for five per cent reservation to the Gujjar, Raika-Rebari, Gadia Luhar, Banjara and the Gadaria communities, and has to refused to move from the tracks until the same is met through an official announcement.

A state government delegation, including Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh and IAS officer Neeraj K Pawan, had held talks with the protestors on Saturday but failed to come to an agreement.

(PTI)