Gujjars call off quota agitation due to Kirori Singh Bainsla's illness

JAIPURL: Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla's illness has brought some relief to the Rajasthan government. Gujjars, who were scheduled to launch a march to Jaipur for their demand of 5% quota in government jobs, have postponed their agitation till Bainsla recovers from illness.

Bainsla was hospitalised on Tuesday because of uneasiness and congestion in the chest. "We have decided to retreat from our sit-in site at Bhandarez village in Dausa. We will relaunch our agitation once Bainsla recovers," said Atar Singh, a close aide of Bainsla.

"Bainsla was supposed to arrive in the morning, but he could not come as he is still in the hospital. We were about to begin the march from Bhandarez, but it has been postponed till he regains his health," Harprasad, a close aide of the Gujjar leader, said.

Thousands of Gujjars had been staging a sit-in to press their quota demand since last Sunday. The illness of their leader has forced them to discontinue their agitation. On Sunday, Bainsla had announced to start protest in Bhandarej and a march to Jaipur from there if the government did not fulfill the demands for 5% reservation for Gujjars in government jobs and withdrawal of cases against those involved in previous quota stirs.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the hospital on Wednesday said, "Bainsla is diabetic and is also detected with a stone in gall bladder. We have started the course of treatment and kept him under observation for 48 hours."

BJP, meanwhile, has alleged that the Gehlot government doesn't want to give reservation to Gujjars. "Had Congress wanted, it would have included the Quota Act in the 9th schedule of the Constitution. It would also have paved the way to 14% quota to economically weaker section," said BJP leader Kalicharan Sarraf.