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Raje Govt. concedes demand of Gujjars

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Government on Friday conceded the demand of the Gujjar community to withdraw all cases pending against its members during their agitation for Scheduled Tribe status.

This will amount to withdrawal of as many as 42 cases pending against 263 people in various parts of Rajasthan but mostly from the Dausa-Karauli-Sawai Madhopur belt where the agitation, begun in May, had witnessed bloodshed.

What appeared to be a Diwali gift to the Gujjar community, whose original demand is under the consideration of the Jasraj Chopra Committee, came after negotiations between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and the Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla here at the residence of national BJP treasurer Ramdas Agarwal.

“Talks were fruitful. The Government has accepted our demands and now we are ready to wait for the Chopra Committee report,” said Col. Bainsla.

The Colonel said the Gujjar community reposed “full faith in the State Government” for fulfilment of its demands.

Expressing satisfaction over the outcome of the talks, Mr. Agarwal said the Gujjar leaders were positive in their negotiations. “I thank them for their cooperation,” he said.

Mr.Agarwal said the Government was also considering the demand of the Gujjar community for compensation to those who sustained injuries during the agitation. The amount to be given as relief and other details would be decided later, he said.

Along with the cases registered during the current agitation, the Government has reportedly agreed to withdraw four cases registered against 33 persons at Hindaun in Karauli district last year 2006 in connection with a one-day protest by Gujjars. The protest had witnessed large-scale destruction of railway property including dismantling of railway tracks along a few kilometres.

Ramlal Jat, general secretary of the State BJP, said more than a dozen Gujjar leaders were present during the day’s talks. Sources here said the cases would be withdrawn after the State Government intimating the courts about the decision.

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