Split in Gurjjar front as Bainsla calls off mass arrests

Although Bainsla on Wednesday called off the agitation, his decision did not go down well with other leaders of the community such as expelled BJP MLA Prahlad Gunjal and suspended BJP MLA Attarsingh Bhadana. Several members of the community doubted Bainsla’s motive as he went ahead with the dialogue with the state Government in their absence.

“Not all senior leaders were present at the Ajmer Central Jail where the talks took place. How could Bainsla go ahead with the dialogue in their absence?” said Bhograj Gujjar. He, with his supporters, shouted slogans against Bainsla and the Raje Government outside the Central Jail after the decision was made public.

In a statement which was read out to the crowd outside the jail, Bainsla said that women, who were supposed to court arrests on Thursday, would not be doing so as the agitation had been withdrawn.

“Gurjjar leaders and the state Government will now hold round-table talks, in which each party will have five representatives. There will be no more protests or agitations and we will try to solve the problem through talks,” read the statement.

General Secretary of the state BJP Rampal Jat, who was leading the talks on behalf of the state Government, had attempted to initiate the dialogue on Saturday when he visited Bainsla at the Ajmer Central Jail. Thereafter, he accompanied Bainsla to Bharatpur on Monday after Gurjjars there stalled rail traffic. Bainsla appealed to members of the the community to maintain peace and the rail traffic was restored. Bainsla, Dr Roop Singh and Hari Singh Mahuwa were shifted to Ajmer Jail for talks.

With Gunjal and Bhadana absent from the scene, reports claimed that Bainsla had refused to participate in the dialogue on Tuesday morning. Ajmer Divisional Commissioner Deepak Upreti had requested Bainsla to call off the agitation.

Following this, the core committee of the Gurjjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti held a meeting. Gunjal and Bhadana were to be shifted to Ajmer by Tuesday evening. However, the final round of talks on Wednesday was held without them.

When asked about the absence of the rebel BJP Gurjjar leaders, Rampal Jat told The Indian Express that several leaders were still in jail. “It was a call that Gurjjar leaders had made. We had asked them if they would like to wait for the duo, but Bainsla and the party told us that was not needed. Anyway, Gunjal and Bhadana represent the community, but they are not the community,” said Jat.

The Gurjjar Aarakshan Samiti will now name five representatives who will be part of the dialogue with the state Government. The Gurjjar leaders have also handed over a six-point charter for the dialogue, which includes the state Government’s recommendation letter along with Justice Jasraj’s report; compensation for those who died or were injured during the agitation; criminal cases filed against the leaders to be withdrawn; and a judicial inquiry on the police firing during the agitation.