Gujjar agitation continues, more roads blocked

JAIPUR: Gujjars, on a war path over the reservation issue, laid siege to more roads, highways and rail routes and enforced shutdowns in some cities as the stand-off between the community and the Rajasthan government persisted for the 8th day today.

No further talks between Gujjars, demanding five per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions, and the Ashok Gehlot administration were held today to break the impasse.

Yesterday, the first round of talks at Pilukapura, the epicentre of the stir, some 11-km from Bayana in Bharatpur district, were deadlocked with Gujjars unrelenting on their quota demand.

Around 200 protesters today jammed the Jaipur-Ajmer highway at Mangaliawas in Ajmer district throwing road traffic haywire.

Late last night, some protesters set ablaze a truck near Kotputli town on the Jaipur-Delhi highway, police said adding no one was injured.

Besides the Dausa-Bharatpur highway, agitators continued to squat on Karauli-Hindaun, Mahaveerji-Karauli, Mahua-Hindaun and Gangapur-Lalsot roads in the state, police said.

Hundreds of Gujjars continued to stage sit-ins on tracks in Bharatpur, Dausa and Tonk districts affecting rail traffic. They also disturbed movement of trains in Sawaimadhopur.

State roadways buses and other vehicles could not enter Bharatpur and Ajmer cities due to blockade on the highways, police said.

Partial shutdowns, in support of Gujjar demands, were observed in Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Jhalwar and some other towns, reports said.