Gujjar stir spreads to MP

Bhopal, May 31 (UNI) The pro-reservation agitation by Rajasthan's Gujjars spread to the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh where hundreds of the community's members staged demonstrations in Neemuch and Sheopur districts today.

Roads were blocked by agitators and memoranda, addressed to President A P J Abdul Kalam, handed over to district collectors.

Neemuch Janpad Panchayat President Umrao Singh Gurjar led a demonstration at Fawwara Chowk. At Sheopur district headquarters, more than 250 Gujjars staged a demonstration and handed over to Collector Shobhit Jain a memorandum addressed to Governor Balram Jakhar.

Besides ST status, the memoranda demanded adequate ex gratia and government jobs for families whose members were killed when a demonstration was fired upon in Rajasthan. The Sheopur-Kota-Sawai Madhopur route was closed since this morning and long lines of stranded vehicles were observed.

Police said additional personnel were stationed at Jalalpura and Samratha posts on the interstate border.

In Shivpuri district, Gujjars blocked the Agra-Mumbai National Highway and staged a demonstration at Satanwada township. Police and other administrative officials rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators.

UNI