Called for talks,Gurjjars postpone Jaipur march

Gurjjar leader Col Kirori Singh Bainsla called off a proposed march to the state capital on Friday to demand reservation and decided to send an 11-member delegation to meet senior government officials and Congress leaders....

Gurjjar leader Col Kirori Singh Bainsla called off a proposed march to the state capital on Friday to demand reservation and decided to send an 11-member delegation to meet senior government officials and Congress leaders. Bainsla,at present in Ghazipur in Karauli district with his close lieutenants,said he would speak to the government if talks with the delegation went well,but would resume his protest march if the talks failed.

Karauli District Collector Neeraj K Pavan delivered the governments message to Bainsla on Friday morning inviting him for a dialogue. Bainsla said,The government wanted to speak to us and we have agreed. If the talks are positive,I will also meet Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

However,he added that if talks proved inconclusive,the Gurjjars would activate their initial plan of a four-pronged march to the Rajasthan Assembly in Jaipur from the districts of Karauli,Tonk,Sawai Madhopur and Ajmer.

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Our demands remain the same,granting 5 per cent reservation for government recruitment is the top priority. Also,we wish no violence from our side under any circumstances, Bainsla said. He added that he would continue to stay in Ghazipur and the mahapadavs in areas around Jaipur would also continue till an amiable situation was arrived at.

Later in the day,Gehlot said,We all want this to be handled peacefully. Nobody wants violence. He reminded that more than 70 people had lost their lives during the 2007-08 agitations.

Sources close to Bainsla said the 11-member delegation included prominent members from the community,but no members from the Gurjjar Arakshan Samiti.

A Gurjjar leader said,The 11 members were not selected from the Samiti so that they would remain neutral. The delegation includes well respected community leaders from three districts.