Raje appeals to Gujjars to accept Centre's reservation initiatives

Jaipur, May 28 : Asking the Gujjar community to accept the reservation-related initiatives of the Centre, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today said the reservation should be done at the Central level.

Appealing to the Gujjars to stop their acts of violence, Raje asked them to understand the reservation procedure and come forward to settle the issue through dialogue.

Meanwhile, Delhi was placed on high alert ahead of Thursday's shutdown call by Gujjar protestors.

According to sources, since the Gujjar unrest is fast approaching the National Capital Region (NCR), the security establishment has left nothing to chance.

The alert went out on Tuesday as Gujjars continued their rampage in Rajasthan and other areas, ripping out rail signalling systems, blocking arterial highways and clashing with police.

Police fired teargas shells to disperse hundreds of protesters who had blocked the busy Delhi-Jaipur Highway near Kothputli about 130 kms from the State capital, leading to traffic chaos.

Gujjar protesters were also teargassed by police in Tonk district, about 200 kms from Jaipur, after they tried to shut down shops and block roads.

At least ten people including two policemen were hurt in the violence at Ghas village, twelve kms from Tonk.

In Banswara District, the protestors set effigies of Chief Minister Vasudhara Raje and State Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria on fire. Some minor clashes with police were also reported from the area.

The agitations do not seem to die down with Gujjar leader Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla who is camping along with his supporters in Karwadi in Bharatpur district, vowing to continue the ongoing stir.

Meanwhile, three additional army columns (nearly 240 personnel) were rushed to Rajasthan to assist the state police in the violence-hit districts. Earlier, ten army columns (nearly 800 personnel) had been sent to the state.

Besides, 21 companies (nearly 2,500 personnel) of paramilitary forces including Rapid Action Force, CRPF and BSF are also there to assist the civil authorities.

ANI