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Wednesday, Jun 06, 2007
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Peace back in Rajasthan

Special Correspondent

39 Army columns withdrawn, traffic resumes on NH 11

JAIPUR: Normality returned to Rajasthan after a weeklong strife over the Gujjars' demand for inclusion in the ST list, thanks to Monday's agreement between the Government and the struggle committee.

Authorities said 39 columns of the Army, deployed in over a dozen districts, were withdrawn, while the paramilitary forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force and the Border Security Force, would be called back in a phased manner.

The roadblock between Peepalkheda and Patoli along the Jaipur-Agra stretch of National Highway 11 in Dausa district was lifted as Gujjar Mahasabha leaders Kirori Singh Bainsla and Roop Singh reached the area on Monday night after successful talks with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Traffic resumed in the early hours of Tuesday.

As part of the normalisation process, 1,322 persons arrested during the agitation were being released.

A North-West Railway release said barring 10 services, all trains reported arrivals and departures as scheduled. Some trains were cancelled either fully or partially owing to non-availability of rakes. They included the Jodhpur-Bikaner-Delhi Express, the Ahmedabad-Hardwar Express and the Jaipur-Gwalior Express. The Jaipur-Hissar train was cancelled between Jaipur-Alwar.

Reports from east Rajasthan districts said the Meena community, which is against granting Scheduled Tribe status to Gujjars, continued to hold panchayats to take stock of the situation.

Similarly, there were reports of a section of Gujjars refusing to accept the agreement with the Government. It is meeting at Pushkar town in Ajmer district next week.

Col. Bainsla returned to a rather lukewarm welcome in his hometown Hinduan in Karauli district. He told journalists that the government agreeing to set up a committee was a "positive indication that the demand is being considered." However, the agitation was only "suspended" and not dropped.

No jubilation

Reports from the districts said there was no jubilation among the Meenas and the Gujjars. But Meena Ministers and MLAs celebrated the outcome of the talks, which fell short of conceding the Gujjar's main demand that the Chief Minister send a letter to the Centrerecommending ST status to the community.

Col. Bainsla told the media that he was convinced with Ms. Raje's argument that a letter, not supported by data, would not be of much value before the Central bodies. "She was willing to give a letter but advised against such a thing."

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