Efforts to end impasse on, CM says talks positive

Jaipur, June 2 (UNI) The Rajasthan government today continued its efforts for a peaceful solution to the five-day-old Gujjar agitation for the community's inclusion into the ST list even as an uneasy calm prevailed in the state after a lull in violence.

Peace parleys gained momentum as the spiralling violence in the state subsided after four days of bloodshed that left 24 people dead.

After her meeting with leaders of the agitating Gujjar community, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje tonight said the talks were held in a ''satisfactory'' manner and a consensus solution to end the violent pro-reservation stir was in sight.

''A consensus is in sight after talks between the government and the agitating Gujjar community leaders and a final understanding is likely to be arrived at tomorrow,'' Ms Raje said.

Emphasising that the presence of Gujjar leader Col Kirodi Singh Baisala at the talks was ''important'', the Chief Minister expressed the hope that he would accept her invitation to join the dialogue.

She also announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the clashes and police firing during the agitation.

Earlier today, the state government imposed the National Security Act (NSA) in ten violence-hit districts here.

Home Secretary V S Singh said under the NSA, the District Collectors of Jaipur, Kauroli, Bharatpur, Sawai Adhopur, Bundi, Dausa, Alwar, Kota, Jhalawar and Dholpur have been empowered to detain miscreants found indulging in destruction of public property.

''Except a single incident of clash between Meenas and Gujjars reported from Pisangan in Ajmer district, the situation in the state is by and large peaceful,'' he said.

Mr Singh said the Jaipur-Delhi (NH8) route has been made fully operational with Rajasthan Roadways buses resuming services on this route. Train services on the trunk route of Delhi-Mathura-Mumbai was restored today.

Emboldened by the situation limping back to normalcy, the Railways resumed some long-distance trains, much to the relief of stranded travellers and road links between Delhi and Jaipur, snapped in the wake of the agitation, also re-commenced.

Surveillance by army and para military forces was intensified in the wake of sporadic clashes between the Gujjar and Meena communities yesterday in which four people were killed.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appealed to the people of Rajasthan and its neighbouring states to desist from violence and help maintain peace and calm.

''My heart grieves for all those who have lost their family members and those who have suffered injuries. I appeal to all the people of Rajasthan and also those in neighbouring States to maintain peace and calm. I appeal to all sections of society to desist from actions which may lead to further violence and distress and which will disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens,'' Dr Singh said.

BJP General Secretary Gopinath Munde, who reached here this morning to review the situation in the wake of the agitation, facilitated the talks which began at the Chief Minister's official residence this afternoon.

Besides the Chief Minister and members of group of ministers, Panchyati Raj Minister Kalu Lal Gujjar and five other BJP MLAs from Gujjar community, also participated in the talks today, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar told reporters.

The spokesman has dismissed the possibility of resignation by Food and Civil Supply Minister Kirodi Lal Meena and other Meena legislators in protest against the demand of inclusion of Gujjars into the ST list.

The BJP central leadership had deputed two senior leaders, former Union Minister Ananth Kumar and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde to help Ms Raje in talks with Gujjar leaders on ending the violence in the state.

UNI