Differences crop up among leaders of Gujjar stir

Ignoring repeated appeals by the Rajasthan government, Gujjars continued their agitation by blocking several key rail and road routes for the 10th consecutive day even as cracks seem to have emerged in the community leadership.

Several rail and road routes in Bharatpur, Dausa, Karauli, Dholpur and Sawaimadhopur districts as well as nearby areas were blocked by the community causing hardship to the people.

Differences among Gujjar leaders emerged after which no talks could take place on Tuesday. The agitators are demanding five per cent reservation in government jobs and said that the stir will not be withdrawn till the demand is met.

The agitators have told Bainsla that no decision will be taken unilaterally by him and they will vacate the rail tracks only after getting full five per cent reservation, Dr Roop Singh, an aide of Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla, said.

No talks between the government and the agitators could take place since Sunday when the state Energy Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, also a Gujjar, met the agitators at Pilukapura and tried to convince his community people to call off the agitation saying the government was committed to meet their demands but there were some limitations as the matter was sub-judice.

But the agitators did not agree and Bainsla on behalf of the community gave the government an ultimatum to fulfil their demands within seven days. He threatened to intensify the stir if the community did not get reservation in seven days.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehot, Home Minister Shanti Dhariwal have repeatedly appealed the Gujjars to understand the situation and call off the stir.

Meanwhile, a few hundred Gujjars today blocked the Pari Chowk traffic in Greater Noida for half an hour.

Road blockade was also reported from Dadri and Jewar. "Hundreds of Gujjars from the district went to Faridabad where a maha-panchayat is being held today. We will decide the course of further agitation as per outcome of the panchayat there," Rajkumar Bhatti of Kisan Sangarsh Samiti said.