Preliminary round of talks between Rajasthan Govt. and Gujjars leaders end

Bayana (Rajasthan), June 9 : The preliminary round of talks between the Rajasthan Government and the agitating Gujjar leaders concluded in Bayana this evening.

Two ministers of the Vasundhara Raje government-- Mines Minister Laxmi Narayan Dave and Irrigation Minister Sanwarmal Jat held talks with a 37-member Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti.

After coming out of the three-hour meeting in Bayana, representatives from both the sides said that the talks were held in cordial atmosphere and now Colonel Bainsala has to decide about sending his representatives for further talks to Jaipur.

There was unprecedented security with every member of the delegation thoroughly frisked before the talks.

Companies of Border Security Force (BSF), Rapid Action Force (RAF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and RAC were deputed in the Bayana tehsil of Bharatpur district.

No one except journalists were present around the talks venue. After the Gujjar leadership agreed to hold the first talks on Friday, the two sides squabbled over the venue. Colonel Bainsla, is camping in violence-hit Karwadi-Pilupura area, about five kilometres from Bayana.

The Gujjar agitation for getting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for their community since May 23 has left 43 people killed in police firing and clashes.

ANI