Gujjar stir enters eighth day, talks to continue today

BHARATPUR/JAIPUR: Gujjar protesters continued to block Delhi-Mumbai rail route and a key national highway for the eighth day today even as a fresh round of talks with the government to resolve the stand-off over the issue of job reservation will be held later in the day.

Gujjars have been blocking rail tracks and roads in three districts for a week now to press for five per cent quota in government jobs.

Rajasthan High Court had yesterday directed the officials to restore traffic on Jaipur-Agra national highway and summoned the DGP and Chief Secretary today to explain to the court that what actions were taken by the administration to clear the tracks and the highways.

Meanwhile, Gujjar-Government talks are resuming today to discuss on a new formula for 5 per cent reservation though it is not clear whether the Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla would be participating in the meeting.

Rajasthan government had yesterday invited the Gujjars for another round of talks with the assurance of a fresh formula to resolve the impasse after it told them that it would not be possible to accord five per cent quota in jobs within the legal limit of 50 per cent saying that a new classification within the limit will have adverse consequences on social harmony.

However, the government suggested that there was a scope for 5 per cent reservation, legally, beyond the 50 per cent limit and a decision to start a fresh exercise on this option may be taken in today's meeting.

"The government assured us last night that the committee of ministers will come with a new formula to resolve the issue of five per cent reservation in today's meeting," Himmat Singh, spokesperson of the Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh samiti said.

He did not confirm whether Bainsla would also attend the meeting.

On the other hand, members of the Gujjar community are squatting on the railway track in Pilukapura in Bharatpur, on NH-11 at Sikandara in Dausa and a state highway in Sawaimadhopur.

Karauli district is also affected by the agitation.

The number of protestors increased last night on the tracks that included large number of women and children who were armed with sticks and batons.

Police and paramilitary forces are deployed in the area but no action was taken to evacuate Gujjars and restore the blocked tracks and roads despite the court's direction.