Gujjars hold demo in Delhi; claim Centre equally responsible

New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) Members of the Gujjar community today held a demonstration in the national capital, blaming the Vasundhara Raje government and the Centre for the latest spate of violence in Rajasthan.

Addressing a 'shradhanjali sabha' (homage meeting), Gujjar leaders lamented that while the community had made several sacrifices for the country, their demand for inclusion as ST community was being met by bullets. ''We have shown our patriotism as soldiers...in Jammu and Kashmir the Kashmiri Gujjars have been taking on the militants,'' they said.

The Gujjar leaders claimed that till the time the community was included in the ST list, they would continue with the agitation.

''We are ready for more sacrifices but we will not withdraw,'' they said.

The speakers at the demonstration charged the Centre with failing to impose President's rule in Rajasthan despite continous ''state-sponsored violence'' against Gujjars.

''Home minister Shivraj Patil has not listened to our demands and is protecting the Rajasthan government,'' they alleged.

Yesterday, thousands of Gujjars gathered near Noida and demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister and blocked the railway track of Maripart Railway station to protest the police firing.

The agitation has left scores of tourists stranded in Agra as buses and trains plying on the Agra-Jaipur route were cancelled following the violence so far. About 100 buses enroute from Agra to Jaipur had been cancelled.

Rail services also remained paralysed for the third day as trains were run on diverted routes and some remained suspended.

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