Gujjars call off agitation; Govt forms committee

Jaipur, June 4: Gujjars in Rajasthan today called off their eight-day-long agitation over their demand for Scheduled Tribe status following a settlement reached at talks between the state government and community leaders.

An announcement to this effect was made here by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Gujjar Reservation Action Committee leader Col Kirodi Singh Bainsla at a joint press conference.

As per the agreement reached between the two sides the state government has decided to constitute a three-member committee under the chairmanship of a retired judge of the Rajasthan High Court.

The committee would examine the demand and representation of the Gujjar action committee as per the norms laid by the Central Government for the purpose.

Mrs Raje said the committee would submit its report within three months and the state government would initiate further action in this regard on the basis of the report.

The secretary to the committee would be a noted expert of scheduled tribes' affairs, Mrs Raje said. The Chief Minister said the government has always tried to up hold the principle of ''justice to all and injustice to none'' and it was the foremost on their minds throughout the process of negotiations to find a peaceful solution to the imbroglio.

She also mourned as many as 24 people who lost their lives in violence during the course of agitation.

Expressing satisfaction over the agreement, Col Bainsla said ''Gujjars have achieved the desired goal''.

He apologised to the people of the desert state for the loss of life and inconvenience caused adding ''lives of several thousands of others have been saved''.

He thanked the Chief Minister and her team for evolving a satisfactory agreement over the community's demand.

UNI