Raj govt, Gujjar leaders waiting for bail process of protesters

Jaipur, Jun 11 (UNI) The Rajasthan Government and the Gujjar leaders agitating for the ST status appear to be waiting for the protesters to be released on bail through judicial process.

Gujjar Reservation Action Committee convener Col(retd) Kirodi Singh Bainsla has put a rider of release of the Gujjar protesters, including women and dropping of murder charges against 20 Gujjar activists.

In responce to col Bainsla's demand, the state government has made clear that in view of the present status of the cases against the protesters their release was possible on bail through the courts.

Counsels for Gujjar protesters today moved bail applications before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Bandikui town of Dausa district for release of 25 women protesters who had allegedly blocked Jaipur-Delhi rail route and damaged rail tracks near Bandikui.

The applications were rejected as the court cited lack of jurisdiction to hear bail plea on cases under section 150, 151 and 152 of the Railway Act.

The applicants would now move the court of Additional District Judge for bail and the same were likely to be heard in Dausa ADJ court tomorrow as post of ADJ Bandikui is presently lying vacant.

These women have presently been lodged in Alwar District Jail.

A Congress women delegation led by All India Mahila Congress President sitting MP Prabha Thakur wanted to meet these women undertrials in the jail but the authoritites did not allow them.

The process for seeking bail for 20 protesters who have been booked for various charges including that of murder was also being contemplated in Bayana and the state government appears to be waiting for the conclusion of this judicial process.

S N Thanvi, Principal Secretary in Water Resources Department, who has been camping in Bayana since the launch of the agitation on May 23, said the state governemnt was doing its best to resume talks.

''We are in touch with Gujjar leader Col Bainsla'', he said.

Ruling BJP state President and Rajya Sabha MP Om Prakash Mathur, who has been participating in the process for early solution, while talking to UNI said talks were unlikely to be held today.

''It might take sometime'', he added.

Meanwhile, Art of Living Mission founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had also taken initiative to play his role as mediator to persuade Col Bainsla and other Gujjar leaders for peaceful solution to their demand for ST status.

The spiritual leader, who had arrived here yesterday, held meeting with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and ruling BJP leadership and later gone to Pillukapura to meet Gujjar leader Col Bainsla.

Gandhian leader Subba Rao also arrived here and expressed his desire to meet Gujjar leaders while appealing to them to adopt the path of peace and non-violence for achieving their demand.

Earlier, the first round of talks in Bayana on Monday had yielded encouraging results with both sides expressing their willingness to continue talks for amicable soultion to the fortnight old pitched agitation which had claimed at least 38 lives in the state since May 23.

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