Official talks between the agitating Gurjjars and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today ended inconclusively even as an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased was announced. During the discussion over Gurjjars’ quota on Scheduled Tribe status which lasted over nine hours, it was decided to compensate the injured also as per the requirement and rules. Raje announced at her residence tonight that the next round of talks, possibly tomorrow, would be held with convenor of Gurjjar Sangarsh Samiti Col Kirori Singh Bainsla to finalise the agreement. “To maintain and bring peace and harmony in the state, my Government is committed to resolve any problem whatsoever. Hence I invited the agitating Gurjjar people. The talks with the Gurjjar delegation has moved forward and I am sure a solution to the current impasse would be found after holding final talks with their leader Col Bainsla,” Raje said in a statement. However, a Gurjjar Sangarsh Samiti spokesperson later said the talks had failed and Bainsla would not be attending tomorrow’s meeting as announced by Raje. This was the fifth round of talks which resumed around 2 pm amidst tight security. Among others who attended the crucial meeting were Home Minister G C Kataria, six Gurjjar MLAs including Panchayati Raj Minister Kalulal Gurjjar, and 11 members of the Gurjjar Sangarsh Samiti. Today more trouble surfaced for the Government. State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kirodilal Meena, while speaking to the media, said the Government under no circumstances should give in to the demands of the Gurjjars. “If the state does send a recommendation for allotting ST status to the Gurjjars, the Meenas will not tolerate it,” he said. Even as rumours of a change in the state BJP leadership did the rounds throughout the day, Kataria left for Delhi to brief the BJP high command and the Centre about the situation in the state. Meanwhile, stray violence continued for the fifth consecutive day in the eastern belt of the state. But the authorities did manage to clear some of the highways blocked since Tuesday. The Delhi-Munai and Jaipur-Rewari rail route and the Jaipur-Delhi highway were thrown open, though certain rail routes continued to be affected. Paramilitary forces escorted vehicles to safety at several stretches on the Delhi-Jaipur highway. The Jaipur-Kota and Jaipur-Ajmer highways were also cleared. Briefing the media on the present situation in the state, Home Secretary V S Singh said apart from the Agra-Jaipur Highway, all other highways had been cleared. “Even on NH 11, there are only a few Gurjjars who are still around and not the hundreds and thousands as is being reported,” he said.
