No talks in Jaipur, Gurjjars ensure Bainsla stays put

The deadlock over further talks between agitating Gurjjars and the Rajasthan Government remained on Wednesday...

The deadlock over further talks between agitating Gurjjars and the Rajasthan Government remained on Wednesday with leader of the agitators Kirori Singh Bainsla sticking to his precondition of the release of women protestors who were arrested from Dausa district.

A bail plea of the 25 arrested women has been rejected by magistrate. A fresh application would be presented on Thursday for their release. The state Government has made it clear that the case is beyond its reach. “The women are under judicial custody and their release will be decided by court alone. We cannot do much about it,” said Principal Secretary S N Thanvi.

Meanwhile, the Jaipur police arrested 70 Gurjjars under Section 107/51. There are more than thousand Gurjjar men and women under arrest in Rajasthan.

The Gurjjars have formed a 21-member team. “We are ready and as soon as the Government releases the women, we will be ready to go to Jaipur for second round of talks,” Bainsla said here. Besides the release of the women arrested for damaging a rail track in stir-hit Dausa district, he demanded the release of men taken into custody in the wake of the agitation and restoration of electricity and water and jammed telecommunication network in the agitation-affected areas.

Wednesday saw differences between Bainsla and other Gurjjar leaders widening. While the retired Colonel has been suggesting for the past two days that only talks can resolve the issue, the others are adamant that Bainsla would not be leaving for any preliminary talks till the Government gave a clear indication that the recommendation letter would be sent.

Sources said Bainsla himself had told Thanvi that he was ready to go for talks in Jaipur.

At the camp in Pilupura, there were signs of growing weariness among the agitating Gurjjars. The womenfolk stayed away from the spot on Wednesday. The number of agitators has also dwindled by a few thousands. Piles of garbage and human refuse are piling around the area. “We need to hire sweepers immediately. We request all of you to bring them from your villages,” senior Gurjjar leader Attar Singh was heard announcing repeatedly.

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Twentieth day into agitation, Bainsla’s wit however remains intact. Congratulating Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on his birthday, he said, “I am thankful to Laluji for having allowed us to stay on railway line for the past 20 days to lodge our protest against the Government. I wish him happy birthday.” Bainsla also penned a short poem in Hindi for Lalu’s birthday.