Gujjar-Govt talks likely after release of protesters

Jaipur, Jun 11 (UNI) Uncertainty loomed over further talks between Gujjar leaders agitating for ST status and the Rajasthan Government as both sides appeared to be waiting for the protesters to be releasd on bail through judicial process.

Gujjar Reservation Action Committee convener Col (retd) Kirodi Singh Bainsla has put a rider of release of the Gujjar protesters, including women, and dropping of murder charges against 20 Gujjar activists.

Counsels for Gujjar protesters today moved bail applications before the trial court in Bayana but the same were rejected as the court cited lack of jurisdiction to hear bail plea on cases under section 302.

The applicants were now contemplating to move higher courts to seek bail and the state government appears to be waiting for the conclusion of this judicial process.

SN Thanvi, Principal Secretary in Water Resources Department, who has been camping in Bayana since the launch of the agitation on May 23, said the state governemnt was doing its best to resume talks.

''We are in touch with Gujjar leader Col Bainsla", he said.

Ruling BJP state President and Rajya Sabha MP Om Prakash Mathur, who has been participating in the process for early solution, while talking to UNI said talks were unlikely to be held today.

"It might take sometime", he added.

Meanwhile, Art of Living Mission founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had also taken initiative to play his role as mediator to persuade Col Bainsla and other Gujjar leaders for peaceful solution to their demand of ST status.

The spiritual leader had arrived here yesterday, held meeting with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and ruling BJP leadership and later gone to Pillukapura to meet Gujjar leader Col Bainsla.

Gandhian leader Subba Rao also arrived here and expressed his desire to meet Gujjar leaders while appealing them to adopt the path of peace and non-violence for achieving their demand.

Earlier, the first round of talks in Bayana on Monday evening had yielded encouraging result with both sides expressing their willingness to continue talks for amicable soultion to the fortnight old pitched agitation which had claimed at least 38 lives in the state since May 23.

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