Gujjar agitation engulfs Rajasthan, spills over to UP, Delhi

Jaipur, May 30 (UNI) The pro-reservation agitation by the Gujjar community in Rajasthan today spilled over to neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi even as the death toll in the police firing and clashes in Dausa, Kota and other places in the desert state rose to 15.

The large-scale violence in the state, which has hit the tourism industry, continued for the second day today as members of the community went on a rampage today in Dausa, Alwar, Bharatpur and Dholpur districts while enforcing a state-wide bandh.

However, Gujjar leaders and state government officials were likely to meet this evening for talks on the reservation issue, but reports said the agitators had pulled out of the parleys.

Gujjar leaders handed over 13 bodies of the those killed in the violence yesterday to their relatives after the post mortem.

One of the deceased was a policeman whose body was also handed over to his relatives.

Mobs damaged railway tracks, signals and crossings in Dausa, which is represented in the Lok Sabha by high-profile Congress leader Sachin Pilot. As many as seven people were killed in the district when police opened fire to quell the mobs yesterday. At least 5,000 Gujjars went on a rampage in Bayana in Bharatpur, torching a powerhouse, local court and several government offices including a police post.

Sources said the mob set afire the police post at Bajariya, PHED department, the ACJM and SUDMs courts and the excise office. The police fired in the air to disperse the agitated crowd, injuring three people. In Bari, two Roadways buses were set on fire. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's stately palace in Dholpur district had to bear the brunt of Gujjars's anger as agitated protestors pelted stones at it today.

Sources say at least 5,000 Gurjars gathered before her residence in Dholpur and started pelting stones. They were however, stopped and pacified by former MLA Jaswant Singh Gujjar.

Protestors also torched a temporary police post in Sagarpara and also damaged two Roadways buses in the district.

Six BJP legislators of the Gujjar community, including a cabinet minister, today sought permission from party president Rajnath Singh for tendering their resignations, to express their solidarity with the community.

Five of these MLAs -- Panchayati Raj Minister Kalu Lal Gurjjar, Attar Singh Bhandana, Prahlad Gunjal, Data Ram Gurjjar and Hargyan Gurjjar -- went to the BJP state headquarter to submit a written request expressing their desire to quit assembly membership for the cause of the community.

Besides this, MLA and former Minister Nathu Singh Gurjar, who was away in Dausa, had also expressed his intention to be party to the move his party colleagues.

The Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti has called for a Jaipur shutdown tomorrow following the deaths in the police firing.

Protest by the community today spilled into Uttar Pradesh with demonstrations in Muzzafarnagar and Meerut.

The Uttar Pradesh government, meanwhile, has despatched three companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) to Rajasthan following a request by that government.

Yesterday, the state government had sent four companies of PAC to Agra to ensure peace in Gujjar dominated areas in the district. Two companies of PAC each have been deployed in Kharagarh and Saiyya police station areas.

In Madhya Pradesh, police was also put on alert in contigous districts.

Mr Pilot, who visited xxxx Picking up from para four of DR55 'AGITATION-RAJ-THIRD LEAD BANDH' UNI