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Gujjars' Jaipur march continues

JAIPUR: The protest marches by Gujjars heading towards the Rajasthan capital from five different routes demanding five per cent special category reservation continued for the sixth day on Thursday without any incident of violence.

The group led by Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla himself along National Highway No.11 on the Jaipur-Agra stretch pitched their tents for the night halt at Pancholi village. Though the day's trek included extremely sensitive places like Peepalkheda and Patoli where much blood was spilt in the first Gujjar agitation in 2007, the passage was incident-free.

Though there were apprehensions of the agitators resorting to blockade of NH-11 which they did last time with calamitous results, the marchers did not show any inclination towards a roadblock. However, authorities acting with utmost caution diverted the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) buses plying on Jaipur-Bharatpur-Agra route via Alwar-Mandawar.

RSRTC officials here said the marchers did not obstruct buses on any route but they (the officials) were diverting the vehicles in some of the most affected routes as an act of precaution. Police officers, keeping an alert all over the Jaipur-Agra route and elsewhere in a dozen districts, also said there were no attempts by the marchers to create a law and order problem. There were varying reports during the day about Col. Bainsla talking to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on phone but the Chief Minister's Office did not confirm this. “There is a three-member team of ministers led by Home Minister Shanti Dhariwal to do the talking. They will do it,” said sources in the CMO. However, ever since Col. Bainsla had sneaked into the Chief Minister's official residence late night a few days back for a meeting with Mr. Gehlot giving the media a slip, news persons are not ruling out secret direct talks between the two.

A day before, addressing various functions on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, Mr. Gehlot had supported the concept of reservation pointing out that a long as discrimination and untouchability remain reservations would have to continue. Speaking specifically on the Gujjars' demand for five per cent reservation, Mr. Gehlot advised them caution and patience.

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