A breakthrough is expected in the Rajasthan stalemate when Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje holds talks with Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla and other Gurjjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti leaders for the decisive phase of dialogue in Jaipur on Tuesday. The two sides claimed there was “a forward movement” in the talks and a “meeting point” is expected to be reached on Tuesday. While the talks began with jumbo-sized delegations on both sides, the number was later slashed to five each. BJP MP Ramdas Aggarwal spoke on behalf of the Rajasthan Government while Col Bainsla deputed Delhi MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri to present the Gurjjar viewpoint. “It is definitely a step ahead in the right direction. The talks should see a breakthrough on Tuesday,” Bidhuri told The Indian Express.A couple of Gurjjar leaders told this paper that mere “recommendation and justification” by the state Government will not get them the ST status, but “it will help them take the battle to the Centre”. However, if that happens, the Rajasthan Government will have to battle with the Meena discontent in the state. Emerging from a three-and-half hour-long meeting, BJP leader Ramdas Aggarwal said: “The talks were held in a very cordial and satisfactory manner. We have moved four steps further and will go ahead to achieve the goal for the benefit of the people in the state.”Added Bainsla: “I am satisfied with today’s meeting. We have moved two to four steps forward.” Asked if the Government will recommend ST status for the community, he said “it was discussed on Monday and will be finalised on Tuesday.”Bainsla left for Jaipur on early on Monday with Captain Harprasad and Superintendent of Police (CID) C P Sharma.“We will put our stance before the Government (more) clearly and consult our leaders there to reach to a solution,” he asserted, minutes before leaving for Jaipur.He held a meeting with 22 Gurjjar leaders in Jaipur before proceeding for talks with the state officials and other leaders. “Our demands are clear and our stance is firm,” one of the Gurjjar leaders told The Indian Express.After holding talks with the state officials till late in the evening, Bainsla insisted he “will not talk to anyone except the Chief Minister”. Meanwhile, the protestors’ strength at Pilupura is building up with thousands of Gurjjars from the 36 villages around Bayana, Hindaun and other areas coming together in support for the agitation. Food supply to the village is coming in from as far as Uttar Pradesh and Delhi now, said Gurjjar leaders. “The fear of being betrayed is still fresh and the Gurjjars are gathering in large numbers to support the protestors stationed at Pilupura,” said Advocate Attar Singh, the man responsible for managing the gathering at Pilupura. “The protest group will swell to 1.5 lakh within a day,” Singh added.There are hopes of an early result too. Bainsla’s assurances have boosted the morale of the “Gurjjar regiments”. Community leaders said they are expecting him to deliver a “victory speech” in the village soon. “The Government will have to succumb because we will not,” said Bharat Bainsla, a Gurjjar who came down from Delhi to “fight alongside” others a few days back. The police presence, meanwhile, has been equally strong in the region and they too are praying for an early result.“Yeh jhanjhat khatam ho toh ghar chalein (once this problem is over, we can head for home),” said a senior official posted right outside Pilupura.
