The Hindu : Front Page : Gujjars continue to block railway line

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Monday, May 26, 2008
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Gujjars continue to block railway line

Special Correspondent

Their leader Bainsla rejects fresh talks with Vasundhara Raje; Army keeps vigil in troubled areas

— Photo: PTI/ Vijay Verma

Tough stand: Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla with his supporters at Bayana village in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan on Sunday.

JAIPUR: Tension continued in at least half-a-dozen districts in east Rajasthan as members of the Gujjar community squatted for the third day on Sunday along the rail tracks at Karwadi in Bayana tehsil of Bharatpur district.

Kirori Singh Bainsla, convener of the Gujjar Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti (Gujjar agitation action committee) refused an invitation for fresh talks with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Colonel (retd.) Bainsla sat with the demonstrators numbering a few thousands.

The Army, the Rapid Action Force, jawans of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary, besides the Rajasthan police, carried out patrolling in the troubled districts of Bharatpur, Karauli and Dausa during the day as at least a dozen places, including Alwar, Kotputli, and Kekri in Ajmer, Pali and Rayla in Bhilwara observed bandhs. Barring minor incidents, including protesters damaging buses in Kotputli, no major incident was reported from any place.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje warned of “stern action” against anyone who tried to created problems. Explaining the compulsions which led to the police firing on Friday at Pilupura and and on Saturday at Sikndra, Ms. Raje told journalists here that the police had acted under severe provocation and threat to their lives.

Appeal

“My appeal to the Gujjar community is that don’t allow the vested interests to play politics with dead bodies,” Ms. Raje said. “The Government is willing for talks. The colonel rejected my invitation for talks and refused to send any emissary,” she said.

Amid the charges of the Congress that the Chief Minister never ventured out of the capital to the affected areas for fear of her safety, Ms. Raje made an aerial survey of the area after reaching by helicopter from the capital in the afternoon.

She landed at Bayana, 20 km from the spot where the squatters are located, and met the police and administrative officials.

Ms. Raje sent a message to Col. Bainsla about her arrival but the Gujjar patriarch, now reportedly under tremendous pressure from his own followers for taking a tough stance, refused to relent and said the Government was not serious about talks. She had suggested meeting at a school in the neighbourhood.

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