Dialogue suffers setback; talks will continue, maintains govt

Jaipur, June 3 (UNI) Efforts for reaching a peaceful solution to the six-day-old Gujjar agitation for the inclusion of the community into the Scheduled Tribes category suffered a setback as the proposed talks between Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Gujjar Reservation Action Committee convenor Col Kirodi Singh Bainsla could not take place as he did not turn up for them.

According to TV reports, Col Bainsla turned down the chief minister's invitation for talks and refused to come to the Pink City for them.

However, a Government spokesman denied the reports and said Col Bainsla could not come to the Rajasthan capital as he was participating in the funerals of victims held in Patoli area in Dausa district today.

The spokesman said the talks have not broken down and the same would continue for finding a peaceful solution.

Meanwhile, there are signs of positive change in moods of agitating Gujjar leaders who earlier wanted nothing short of ST status.

Dr Roop Singh, a member of the 11-member team of Gujjars participaitng in the talks with the group of ministers, told UNI by phone from Patoli today that ''if the state government could not accept our demands let the Chief Minister come and salute ''martyrs''(deceased Gujjars) and we will be satisfied with that''.

Last night too, after the conclusion of nine-hour-long round of talks, the Gujjar leader said his community believed that national interests were above the community interests and the community would prove its point at an appropriate time.

However, Dr Singh had protested the army's presence around their congregation on the Jaipur Agra Highway near Patoli and said they had virtually surrounded the Gujjars and they were being treated like ''terrorists''.

He said on the one hand the government wanted to hold talks with them and on the other treated them like ''terrorists''.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress today took out a ''goodwill march''(Padyatra) for the restoration of peace and harmony in the state.

The march started from Nehru Circle in Ram Niwas Bagh passed through different areas before culminating at the Shahid Smarak.

Former Rajasthan Chief Ministers Ashok Gehlot, Jagannth Pahadia and Shiv Charan Mathur, Congress state president B D Kalla and several others participated in the march.

In Bikarner too, several organisations organised fast and prayed for an early restoration of peace and harmony in the state.

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