Gujjars raise their pitch, through loud speakers

Railway tracks here have become a new 'platform' for the Gujjars to voice their protest against the government for its failure to resolve their demand for scheduled tribes (ST) status.

A battery set, four loudspeakers and a microphone have been installed by local villagers and attached to an electricity pole along the Delhi-Mumbai railway track.

The speakers, who have used the rail tracks to address the agitators since May 23, range from spiritual disciples to businessmen, political leaders, including former MLAs and other functionaries of some state-level organisations.

Disciples of Art of Living guru Sri Sri Ravishankar, a host of former MLAs, some corporators including the current Bharatpur MP Vishvendra Singh, have made the best use of their oratory skills to address a thousand-strong gathering.

Functionaries of some caste-based organisations of Rajasthan, like the 'Karni sena' (Rajputs) and Gujjar leaders from states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, have also spoken to the agitators from the rail tracks.

Although there are no restrictions for the speakers, who usually criticise the state government, the locals follow a strict code of not clapping.

Locals say that as the dead were placed next to them on the same field, claps are a strict "no". Any person doing so is promptly hushed up by the crowd.

The announcement system which was till now was used to disseminate general information in the area, is now frequently utilised to check the location of security squads, who have been deputed to man all the exit and entry routes to the fields on both the Pilupura and Karwadi village side.