'150 Gujjars missing in reservation mayhem'

Jaipur, May 30: Claiming 16 deaths and 150 Gujjars missing in the violence in three districts of Rajasthan, a Gujjar faction here demanded the immediate dismissal of the BJP government and imposition of Governor's rule in the state.

Rajasthan Yuva Gujjar Mahasabha state president Dr Vikram Singh Gujjar said police atrocities on the Gujjar community reached barbaric levels as they were rounded up, singled out and then pushed into furnaces during the clashes in Bundi, Dausa and Karauli districts yesterday.

He said such suppression of a particular community has never been witnessed in the history of Rajasthan before. Dr Gujjar said the state government's attitude towards Gujjars is clear, as till now, no official talks have been held with them.

Dr Gujjar asked why the BJP government had backtracked on its promise to provide the Gujjar community with ST status in their election manifesto and said it was clearly a political move to garner votes.

Meanwhile, the Gujjars have demanded Rs 25 lakh compensation and a government job for the kin of those killed in the violence yesterday.

He said they have already faxed a memorandum to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding the BJP government's dismissal.

He further said Gujjars all over the country are likely to spearhead the reservation movement in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI