Protests on, 4 more die in police firing
Rajasthan continued to burn on the third day on Thursday as thousands of Gurjar protestors went on a rampage to torch government properties and police stations in various parts of the state.
By TNN |
JAIPUR: Rajasthan continued to burn on the third day on Thursday as thousands of Gurjar protestors went on a rampage to torch government properties and police stations in various parts of the state.
The worst-affected areas were Bharatpur, Kota, Bandikui, Dholpur, Mahua, Bayana, Nadbai, Ajmer and Dausa. Four more agitators died in clashes with police on Thursday taking the death toll to 21.
The firing took place at Boli village of Sawai Madhopur when the protestors tried to set police station on fire after burning a jeep and buses and government properties. Police tried to control the situation but had to resort to firing. Army was called out to assist the civil administration, according to Superintendent of Sawai Madhopur, Jose Mohan.
Situation is getting worse as anarchy prevails in all the Gurjar-dominated districts especially in eastern Rajasthan. Tension is running high at the epicenter of protest — Pipalkheda-Patuli village — where agitators have been on the road with decomposing corpses of Tuesday’s firing victims.
Meanwhile, Gurjar leaders seem to have softened their stand as they travelled down to Jaipur from Dausa to hold second round of talks with the four-minister cabinet committee after the first round of talks in Dausa had ended inconclusive in the wee hours on Thursday.
“We still see a ray of hope as Gurjar leaders are at least listening to us. At least deadlock has been broken and they are ready for a dialogue. Talks are expected to continue till late night and chances are there that protest would be called off in another 24 hours,” a senior BJP leader told ET.
The agenda of the peace talk revolved around demand for state recommendation to the centre for the inclusion of Gurjar in Scheduled Tribe category, monetary compensation and a government job for the deceased family and formation of a high level committee to probe into the police firing. They have also been said to ask for the constitution of Gurjar Board in the state.
The chief minister Vasundhara Raje has earlier appealed for peace in the state saying that all reasonable and justified demands of Gurjars will be met by the government. “I am deeply agonized by the development. Life is priceless — let’s pledge no more life should be lost from now onwards. All the justified demands including compensation to the deceased and enquiry would be met,” she said. The chief minister has also called for an all party meet at her residence to arrive on an amicable solution.
The worst-affected areas were Bharatpur, Kota, Bandikui, Dholpur, Mahua, Bayana, Nadbai, Ajmer and Dausa. Four more agitators died in clashes with police on Thursday taking the death toll to 21.
The firing took place at Boli village of Sawai Madhopur when the protestors tried to set police station on fire after burning a jeep and buses and government properties. Police tried to control the situation but had to resort to firing. Army was called out to assist the civil administration, according to Superintendent of Sawai Madhopur, Jose Mohan.
Situation is getting worse as anarchy prevails in all the Gurjar-dominated districts especially in eastern Rajasthan. Tension is running high at the epicenter of protest — Pipalkheda-Patuli village — where agitators have been on the road with decomposing corpses of Tuesday’s firing victims.
Meanwhile, Gurjar leaders seem to have softened their stand as they travelled down to Jaipur from Dausa to hold second round of talks with the four-minister cabinet committee after the first round of talks in Dausa had ended inconclusive in the wee hours on Thursday.
“We still see a ray of hope as Gurjar leaders are at least listening to us. At least deadlock has been broken and they are ready for a dialogue. Talks are expected to continue till late night and chances are there that protest would be called off in another 24 hours,” a senior BJP leader told ET.
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The agenda of the peace talk revolved around demand for state recommendation to the centre for the inclusion of Gurjar in Scheduled Tribe category, monetary compensation and a government job for the deceased family and formation of a high level committee to probe into the police firing. They have also been said to ask for the constitution of Gurjar Board in the state.
The chief minister Vasundhara Raje has earlier appealed for peace in the state saying that all reasonable and justified demands of Gurjars will be met by the government. “I am deeply agonized by the development. Life is priceless — let’s pledge no more life should be lost from now onwards. All the justified demands including compensation to the deceased and enquiry would be met,” she said. The chief minister has also called for an all party meet at her residence to arrive on an amicable solution.
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