Reservation issue: 'Protest will spread in the whole country', says Gujjar leader

Dausa (Rajasthan), Dec 27 (ANI): Gujjar leader of National Capital Region (NCR) Veer Singh on Monday slamming the Central Government said the ongoing stir in Rajasthan for five percent reservation in government jobs and academics will spread in the entire country if their demands are not fulfilled.

Singh warned the Centre to give a decision in their favour, other wise the government as well as the local people will have to face the consequences.

"If the Central Government tries to act smarter, then the government has to bear consequences for that. Protest will not be rolled back; it will continue and will be spread in the whole country because there has been a Panchayat meeting in Faridabad for the whole NCR (National Capital Region)," Singh told reporters in Manota village of Rajasthan's Dausa District.

"On December 29, there will be Panchayat meeting in Delhi. And after that the entire NCR will be jammed, whole Delhi and country will be jammed. And it is possible that today national highway number eight can be also jammed. So, government should now take a positive and a good decision taking into account the problems faced by Gujjar community and local citizens," he added.

Meanwhile, Himmat Singh Padli, another leader of the Gujjar community, threatened to shut down the entire state if the demands are not fulfilled.

"We will shut down the entire Rajasthan. Same demand is also coming from the other states as well. Yesterday it happened in Uttar Pradesh. Same will happen in Delhi, and NCR will also be closed but we will not back out from our demands because we have continuously been deceived," said Padli.

"Last government deceived us and Ashok Gehlot also deceived us. This time no bluff will deceive us. We only need decision and do not need any conversation," he added.

Earlier today, Gujjars called for a shutdown in Ajmer after talks with Rajasthan Government remained inconclusive.

Gujjars stepped up their agitation following a Rajasthan High Court order, which ruled members of the community could not be given special reservation in government jobs.

The agitators attempted to block more rail and road routes. They are occupying Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Jaipur, Jaipur-Kota and Ajmer-Indore railway lines at different places, even as thousands of passengers were stranded across the State.

The agitation, which began in 2007, has claimed over 70 lives so far.

A year ago, Gujjars in Rajasthan fought police and members of another caste that already qualified for job reservations.

After the protests, the State government said it would spend Rs 2.8 billion on improving schools, clinics, roads and other infrastructure in Gujjar areas. But Gujjars rejected this option. By Usha Chowdhary (ANI)