Gujjars seek talks with Raje, but turn violent

Karwadi (Rajasthan), May 26 : Gujjar leader Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla today demanded that Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje should visit the agitation site and hold talks with community members over their demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Colonel Bainsla said there is no question of "relenting", adding "if we do, then history will call us cowards".

He was not in favour of holding talks with representatives of the State Government. "Only the Chief Minister should come to talk to us. After all, we are her own people," he added.

"It is the responsibility of the head of an elected government to come and listen to the grievances of the people," while accusing Raje of lacking "courage of conviction," Bainsla said.

Raje flew to Bayana on Sunday and stayed for about 40 minutes in the hope of holding talks with Bainsla, who is positioned about 15 km from Bayana.

The Gujjars resorted to blackmailing the Government by removing track hooks, which caused the derailment of an engine and six wagons of a goods train.

ANI