Gujjar meet at Pushkar gives new twist to Gujjar agitation

Jaipur, Jun 8 (UNI) Giving another twist to Gujjar agitation for inclusion of the community into Scheduled Tribes category, a Gujjar congregation held in holy Pushkar town of Ajmer district today.

decided to float a new front named Joint Gujjar Reservation Front' under senior Congress MLA Govind Singh Gujjar's leadership to spearhead the agitation.

The move seen as a bid to take command of the agitation from Gujjar Reservation Action Committee Convenor Col Kirodi Singh Bainsla. the new front has also decided to hold another Gujjar Mahapanchayat in Pushkar on June 24 to draw future strategy for the cause.

While the present Gujjar Reservation Committee headed by Col Bainsla expressed its intention to give the state government time of three months for implementation of the June 4 settlement, between the committee and the state government, the newly floated front wasted no time in announcing its programmes.

Besides holding Mahapanchayat in Pushkar on June 24, the new front has also decided to hold a Gujjar meet in Jaipur tomorrow and in New Delhi on June 10 for evolving broadbased consensus on the Gujjar agitation at the state and national level.

The new front has not only inducted Col Bainsla, as member, in its 21-member committee, but also given a clean chit to him for spearheadng the agitation so far.

However, several speakers at the Pushkar meet were not happy over unceremonial end of the week-long agitation and described Col Bainsla's step to sign peace settlement with the government on June 4, as step taken under pressure and compulsions. The front also expressed its intention to aviod such situation in future.

The new front also demanded to raise the compensation for next of the kins of deceased from present Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh and transfer of certain officers of a particular caste from certain Gujjar dominated pockets.

Reacting over development in Pushkar today, Col Bainsla's associate Dr Roop Singh said here that the Gujjar Action committee, did appreciated the sentiments expressed in the meet for the cuase of Gujjar agitation but it was of the clear opinion that since the state government had taken certain initiatives, therefore the government should be given stipulated time of three months for implementation of the June 4 settlement.

Dr Singh said, ''We will like to cooperate and work with the government for implementation of the settlement within three months.'' Mr Singh however, remained non committal over Col Bainsla's joining in the new front's 21-member committee as a member.

Meanwhile, Col Bainsla today met Health Minister Dr Digambar Singh, who led the group of ministers in the talks with Gujjars, Chief Secretary Anil Vaish, Home Secretary VS Singh and Director General of Police AS Gill and gave them ultimatum to implement the commitments made in June 4 settlement within three months or the Gujjars would be free to take direct action. Col Bainsla also wanted to meet the Chief Minister but he could not get an appointment.

Mr Bainsla said as per the settlement the three-member judge committee should submit its report to the government within the stipulated time.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has convened a meeting of the ministers and secretaries who have been entrusted the task of monitoring law and order in 14 Gujjar agitation affected districts, here tomorrow.

UNI