Gurjars agree to talk, postpone Jaipur march

JAIPUR: Leading a depleted force demanding job reservations, Gurjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla has postponed his community’s agitation. Accepting the state government’s invitation for talks, Mr Bainsla sent an 11-member team here for talks.

The delegation is expected to make four demands, which include 5% reservation for Gurjars, Gadia Luhar and other Most Backward Castes, government jobs to dependants of community members killed in agitation, release of Gurjar agitators lodged in prisons and clearing the backlog in providing state government jobs.

“Our Mahapanchayat has decided to give the state government a chance to resolve our issues. We are ready for a dialogue, but we will not let go the quota issue. If anything constructive comes out from the meeting, I will join them for further discussions with the chief minister,” Mr Bainsla told this correspondent over phone from Mahapadav in Gazipur Karauli district.

The state government has set up a committee of three ministers: home minister Shanti Dhariwal, energy minister Jitendra Singh and transport minister Braj Kishore Sharma for talks. “We are committed to resolving the issue. The committee will try its best to convince Gurjar leaders about the government’s stand,” said chief minister Ashok Gehlot.

The Gurjar agitation has lost steam as it is a divided house now. While a few Gurjar leaders term it a political move of Mr Bainsla, others feel that the community should wait till the high court decides on the fate of the reservation Act.

Gurjar Mahasabha president R C Saraadna said: “The matter is not in the hands of the state government, which has already granted 5% reservation to Gurjars and three other communities. The Act was struck down by a single bench of the high court. The government appeal against the ruling is before a division bench. The matter is sub-judice, no government can take action.