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National

Patoli firing anniversary peaceful

Sunny Sebastian

Chances of talks between government and Gujjars appear bright

JAIPUR: The first anniversary of the police firing on Gujjar protesters on the Patoli-Peepalkheda stretch of the NH 11 passed off peacefully on Thursday. No untoward incident was reported from any part though the long wait with the bodies of the victims of the last week’s police firing continued.

The State authorities, till now holding 20 bodies in their possession for fear of Gujjars taking them to the protest site once released, decided to hold post-mortem. Fourteen bodies of Sikandra victims are kept in the Sawai Man Singh Hospital here while four bodies of Pilupura victims are in the Bharatpur hospital.

“We cannot hold on any longer. We are releasing the bodies with a request to the families to carry out the last rites. If they don’t do that and instead take them to the protesters, that is unfortunate,” said S.N. Thanvi, Principal Secretary, who is camping in Bayana.

Homage to victims

The Patoli-Peepalkheda stretch the scene of last year’s violence, which led to 26 deaths, remained peaceful with the earlier announced “shraddhanjali sabha” (meeting to pay homage) not taking place. Instead, mourners moved in single file under the close watch of the security forces to offer flowers. Homage was paid to the victims in more than a dozen districts and at Pilupura and Sikandra.

On the eve of the anniversary, the Chief Minister’s Office did some homework — sending out thousands of SMS seeking maintenance of peace. In the morning, helicopters hovering over the troubled spots showered notice bills containing Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s appeal for peace. There was no traffic during the day on most of the highways, including the NH 8, between Delhi and Jaipur. Train services continued to remain disrupted in many parts of the State.

Fresh initiatives

After long deliberations between Ms. Raje and her party colleagues from Delhi and Cabinet members during the day, there emerged chances of fresh initiatives to end the weeklong impasse over the dead bodies.

The chances for talks between the government and the Gujjar Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti (Gujjar reservation action committee) appeared bright though both sides are yet to open their cards.

Talks are likely to be held, with the MP and scion of the Bharatpur royal family, Vishvendra Singh, playing the role of the mediator.

“We are yet to receive any intimation on talks. A meeting of national leaders of the Gujjar community in Jaipur tomorrow [on Friday] will decide the future action plan. They are scheduled to go to Pilupura as well,” Roop Singh, a close associate of Kirori Singh Bainsla, told The Hindu.

“Mediation welcome”

“Mediation is welcome. We cannot go and talk to some 1,000 persons squatting on the rail track,” Gopinath Munde, BJP general secretary in charge for Rajasthan, told journalists here.

He said the party higher-ups were seized of the matter and he would be in touch with L.K. Advani and Rajnath Singh. Mr. Munde ruled out any major political fallout in the State following the Gujjar violence.

“It is for the State government to decide on the dissolution of the Assembly to make way for fresh elections. I don’t think that is happening,” Mr. Munde said.

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