Battle over, both sides claim victory

As Lt Col Kirori Singh Bainsla drives back to Peeplikheda in Dausa after meeting Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday evening

As Lt Col Kirori Singh Bainsla drives back to Peeplikheda in Dausa after meeting Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday evening, he and other Gurjjar face an uphill task of explaining to the community how the issue was amicably resolved. By 8 pm, at least one lakh Gurjjars who had converged at Peeplikheda were waiting for Bainsla to return from the meeting and address them.

8220;It is a victory for us. The Government has agreed to set up a committee to look into our demand for reservation under ST. The committee will do its job and submit a report in three months and then we will decide what to do,8221; Bainsla said over phone while traveling to Peeplikheda. 8220;It may be difficult to convince them but I am sure my community will listen to me that it is in their best interest to withdraw the agitation and wait for the committee8217;s recommendation,8221; he said.

The administration braced for a possible confrontation between Gurjjars and Meenas in the villages with both communities claiming victory. Said Jaipur Divisional Commissioner Madhur Gupta: 8220;We are in touch with leaders of both communities and they have assured us that there would be no violence. But we have tightened security and para-military forces are out in full strength in the villages to prevent any untoward incident. Tonight if there is no trouble, we will also open up all the highways and district roads. Traffic has to start flowing and that would be the sign of return to normalcy. 8221;

Meanwhile, caught at the crossroads with their agitation for ST status being brought to a sudden halt, many Gurjjars felt the agreement between the Government and their leaders today was a 8220;mere eyewash8221;. Though some hailed the Government8217;s decision to set up a committee headed by a retired high court judge to examine the demand for ST status, others said the loss of lives, property and business in the past week was immense and the clock could not be turned back.