Rajasthan govt rejects talks with Gujjar at Bayana

Jaipur, June 7: The Rajasthan government has rejected Gujjar Action Committee's suggestion to hold talks with community leaders over the ST status demand, in Bayana town and insisted on Jaipur as venue for the dialogue.

The state government has conveyed Gujjar leader Col Bainsla that it was unwilling to hold talks at Bayana and reiterated on its earlier stand of inviting Gujjar leaders for talks in Jaipur, ruling BJP state President and sitting MP Omprakash Mathur told UNI here. Mr Mathur said the state government had refused to hold talks in Bayana after considering a high-level meeting, Col (retd) Bainsla's letter in connection with opening of a dialogue. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, her Cabinet colleagues and ruling BJP leadership participated in the meeting held here to consider the letter, review the progress and efforts made by the government in resolving the Gujjar issue. The leaders at the meeting were of the view that holding talks in Bayana near the 'dharna' site was meaningless.

The state government received an acceptance letter from the Gujjar Reservation Action Committee for holding talks in Bayana over the community's demand for ST status.

A three-line letter of acceptance was sent by the committee convener, Col (retd) Kirodi Singh Bainsla through a TV news channel representative.

Meanwhile, the Jaipur-Delhi rail route, which was blocked by the Gujjars since June 1, was today reopened for traffic.

The blockade near Arnia railway station has also been cleared by the security personnel last night.

UNI