Protests turned violent in Jaipur on Saturday as the Rajasthan Police clashes with agitators marching towards chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s residence, over the matter of the ongoing protest by the widows of paramilitary force officials killed in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. The BJP had announced a protest against the detention of its MP Kirodi Lal Meena, who allegedly sustained injuries when he joined the agitation by the Pulwama widows yesterday.
Protesters tore down barricades and pelted stones, videos showed, forcing the cops to resort to lathi-charge causing a massive showdown on way to the chief minister’s residence. The police also used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd, reports said. Several BJP workers and leaders were detained from the protest site.
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The widows have been protesting since February 28 and launched an indefinite hunger strike six days ago, demanding a change in rules so that their relatives and not just children can get government jobs on compassionate grounds. They have also demanded the construction of roads and the installation of statues of the martyrs in their villages.
“It’s been 4 years, and we kept writing to ministers & CM for a job for my brother-in-law & a college in the name of Jeetram,” said Sundari Devi, one of the widows, as quoted by ANI.
Rajasthan CM Gehlot had on Friday accused Meena of using the protesting widows for political gains. The BJP hit back, calling the detention of their leader “an insult” to the protestors. Reacting to the police action, former deputy CM Sachin Pilot told reporters in Tonk that the issues of the widows should be heard with sensitivity.
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"Even today I believe that we can fulfil demands like laying roads, erecting houses and installing statues. A message should not go out that we are not ready to listen to the demands of the widows of the martyrs. It is another thing whether we agree to their issues or not but one should put aside his ego while listening to their demands," the Congress leader said, in an apparent dig at Gehlot.
Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads publicly for more than two years. In 2020, Pilot led a rebellion in the party for a change of leadership in the state. However, Gehlot managed to survive and Pilot and some of his loyalists were later ousted from the state cabinet.
