Gujjars block rail tracks for quota
AGITATION State government has formed a ministerial committee for talks, but chief minister says Centre can decide on SBC reservation I have not come here but the crowd has brought me on railway tracks. People cannot be befooled all the time. It is a do-or-die battle. State government should fulfil its promise. It will be a peaceful protest
JAIPUR: Gujjars blocked the Delhi-mumbai railway route on Friday evening to demand 5% reservation in education and jobs, after hundreds of them sat on the tracks near Malarna Dungar railway station. The stir affected rail traffic: seven trains were diverted, four partially cancelled and two trains were kept on hold at Sawai Madhopur railway station, said an official of the Kota rail division.
The state government has constituted a ministerial panel to hold dialogue with the Gujjars but chief minister Ashok Gehlot said there was nothing that the state could do for the demand. “Any decision on SBC quota could be taken by the central government only,” he said. IAS officer Niraj K Pawan was sent to the agitation site to talk to the agitators.
Earlier, Gujjar Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti chief Colonel Kirodi Singh Bainsla had given a 20-day ultimatum to the state government to take decision on their reservation demand. The ultimatum ended today at 4pm.
Following a community mahapanchayat (mass gathering) at Maksudanpura village, Bainsla along with hundreds of supporters walked to the railway tracks and laid siege to them around 5.30pm.
“I have not come here but the crowd has brought me on railway tracks. People cannot be befooled all the time. It is a do-ordie battle. State government should fulfil its promise. It will be a peaceful protest,” said Bainsla.
He said the Congress promised reservation to the community in its manifesto. “They should honour their words. The s t at e government has not responded to my request and now we are going to start the agitation. We want 5% reservation and I do not know how they are going to give that to us,” he said.
Bainsla issued an appeal to the agitators to be disciplined, peaceful and not cause any damage to public property.
Gujjars are demanding 5% reservation under the special backward classes (SBC) category in education and jobs. After a similar agitation in 2007 and 2008, the state government gave them this quota but the bills were later stayed by Rajasthan high court.
Currently, the pastoral community, which c omprises roughly 5% of state’s population, is getting 1% reservation under K S BAINSLA, Gujjar leader
the Most Backward Class (MBC) category apart from getting benefit of the OBC reservation.
Reservation for SCS, STS and OBCS in Rajasthan is 49%. There’s a 50% ceiling on reservation on the basis of caste. Earlier attempts by the state government to provide the Gujjars (and three other communities) 5% reservation came cropper because that exceeded the 50% limit.
Kota rail division senior divisional commercial manager Vijay Prakash said the DelhiMumbai railway track was blocked due to Gujjar agitation. Gujjars have occupied railway tracks between Nimoda and Malarna railway stations in Sawai Madhopur district, he added.
Two passenger t r ai ns -Awadh Express and Sampark Kranti Express -- have been kept on hold at Sawai Madhopur. He added that train schedules and routes will be decided later after further updates on Gujjar stir.
North Western Railway chief public relation officer Abhay Sharma said comprehensive security plan has been put in place by the Railway Protection Force and NWR. He said patrolling of sensitive sectors has been stepped up.
He said additional companies of RPF and Railway Protection Special Force have been deployed at Jaipur and Ajmer rail divisions. “We are in constant touch and coordination with the state police department for up to date information on crowd movement and potential threat to railway property and train movement,” Sharma added.
Bharatpur divisional commissioner Chandra Sekhar Mootha said all police and administrative officials have been directed to be on alert. The administration will maintain law and order.
Government has formed a ministerial panel to hold talks with Gujjars. The panel includes tourism minister Vishvendra Singh, health minister Raghu Sharma and social justice and empowerment minister Bhanwal Lal Meghwal.