Rivals reject Col Bainsla's stand; resolve to continue stir

Jaipur, Nov 12 (UNI) The rival Prahlad Gunjal faction of the Gujjar action committee today reiterated its resolve to continue the agitation till the Rajasthan government forwarded the state cabinet's recommendation to the Centre in favour of the ST status for the community.

It also condemned committee Convenor Col Kirodi Singh Bainsla and the state government for having stuck an ''unfair deal'' on withdrawal of cases against the Gujjar activists.

Addressing a press conference here, rival faction's leader suspended BJP MLA Attar Singh Bhadana and former MLA Gopi Chand Gujjar criticised Col Bainsla and his supporters for consenting to withdraw merely 42 cases against 263 people and said by agreeing with the state government for the above step on November 9, Col Bainsla had ''once again betrayed the Gujjar community''.

They said there were a large number of cases against over 10,000 Gujjar activists in connection with incidents during the May-June agitation but Col Bainsla was bothered only about a few of his supporters.

Mr Bhadana and Mr Gujjar said Col Bainsla was not the accepted leader of the agitating community and it had already rejected him as their leader.

Mr Bhadana said the Gujjars, led by the new Joint Gujjar Reservation Action Committee (Gunjal faction), would hold a huge dharna (Maha Padhav) here on December 17, if Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje failed to forward to the Centre her cabinet's recommendation for ST status to Gujjars till the expiry of the deadline on December 15.

Prior to this, two more congregations would be held in Jodhpuria village in Niwai region of Tonk district on November 14 and in Kaimri in Karauli district on November 25 to review the situation and mobilise support for the agitation.

UNI