Govt, Gurjjars break stalemate, to hold preliminary talks today

For the first time in 16 days since the agitation started on May 23, there was some hope of talks between the state Government and the Gurjjars.

For the first time in 16 days since the agitation started on May 23, there was some hope of talks between the state Government and the Gurjjars. The first round of talks will be held in Bayana on Monday.

On Sunday morning, the Gurjjars dispatched a list of 45 persons to hold talks with S N Thanvi, the state Government appointed negotiator. But Thanvi turned down the list saying it was too long and the group should be reduced to 12 to 15. In the list, seven persons were from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The Government also placed a condition that the second round of talks should be held in Jaipur.

“They have not yet sent us the new list nor have they given us an approval in writing regarding the final talks to be held in Jaipur,” said Thanvi, hoping that the dialogue would be initiated on Monday.

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On the other hand, Colonel K S Bainsla clarified that he would agree on talks in Jaipur only if the first round of talks proved to be “fruitful”. He also wanted the talks to be held in a “conducive” atmosphere.

Thanvi was expected to go to Jaipur to seek instruction from the political leadership before proceeding for the first round of talks.

The Gurjjars, meanwhile, continued to play a hard game. At Pilupura, even as Bainsla was readying for talks with the state Government, he called in for more Gurjjar men to come out to take the Government head on.

Bainsla made a call to Gurjjars to send at least one man from each house and the Gurjjar community responded in hordes. He also called in for more participation by women to further pressurise the Government.

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The men reaching the ground were told that no one could leave without permission till the Rajasthan Government agreed to send recommendatory letter to the Centre.

“Those who attempt to leave will have to pay Rs 1,100 as fine,” said Bainsla’s deputy Captain Attar Singh, while addressing the sea of humanity — all dressed in white.

On Sunday afternoon, men from 500 villages of Bharatpur, Sawai Madhopur, Dausa and Alwar districts arrived here in batches. They brandished axes, lathis, knives, shouted slogans and hurled abuses at Vasundhara Raje Government.

Sitting on the railway line, Bainsla’s smile widened with each arriving batch. It was time for Bainsla and his deputies put up a fabulous show.

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Each slogan was orchestrated for television channels and agitators were asked to make menacing actions so that a clear message reached the state Government.

The police were camping only a kilometre away from the spot. And despite several police pickets on the way, the Gurjjars did not face any problem in arriving here in huge groups. “We have clear orders not to get offensive,” said a senior state police officer.