Gujjar quota stir enters day 2, leaders reject govt talk offer

Bharatpur(Raj), May 22: Rejecting state government's offer for talks, members of Gujjar community on Friday continued their agitation here for the second day to press for five per cent quota in jobs which led to disruption of train services.

Hundreds of agitators squatted on tracks along the Delhi- Mumbai route, severely hitting road and rail traffic here. Several trains have been diverted while road traffic on Bharatpur-Hindaun road has also been affected, police said.

The state government today sent a letter to the Gujjar leaders, who are demanding five per cent reservation in government jobs under the 50 per cent legal limit, inviting them for talks.

The leaders, however, rejected the talk offer saying they want the government to come up with a permanent solution.

"In a letter, the government asked us to hold talks today but we want a permanent solution of our problem and have given an ultimatum to the government," Himmat Singh, spokesperson of the Gujjar Arkashan Sangharsh Samiti which is leading the agitation told PTI.

State govt sent a letter to the Gujjar leaders inviting them for talks

"We will wait for the government's response and decision of future course of action will be taken in the evening today," he said.

A district administration official handed over the letter to Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje reviewed the situation last night and gave necessary directions to the police and district administration officers.

Home minister Gulabchand Kataria, DPG Manoj Bhatt and others attended the meeting. Hundreds of agitators have been squatting on the railway tracks since last evening and reportedly damaged the tracks by removing some fish plates.

IG Bharatpur Biju George Joseph, SP Rahul Prakash, Collector Ravi Jain and other senior officers are camping in Bayana town and heavy force has been deployed around the area to maintain law and order.

PTI