Police appeal to Gujjars to maintain peace in Delhi

Delhi Police makes security arrangements amid conflicting reports of a call for Delhi shutdown on Monday by Gujjar leaders in support of their agitation.

Delhi Police on Sunday made elaborate security arrangements amid conflicting reports of a call for Delhi shutdown on Monday by Gujjar leaders in support of their agitation in Rajasthan for tribal status, and appealed to the farming community to maintain peace.

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The appeal followed a demonstration by members of the largely farming community at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi under the banner of All India Gujjar Mahasabha where a call for general strike was given.

Police said certain groups of the Gujjar community reportedly gave the call.

There was uncertainty about the shutdown as a group of Gujjar leaders held a meeting on Sunday at Haryana MP and prominent Gujjar leader Avtar Singh Bharana's residence in New Delhi and discussed the possibility of giving a call for a Delhi 'bandh' (shutdown) and blocking the entry of goods to the capital.

Bharana had a meeting with some Gujjar leaders at his residence here on Sunday.

Chief spokesperson of Delhi Police Deependra Pathak said: "The police are in contact with the Gujjar community leaders and have appealed to them to maintain peace and tranquillity in the National Capital Region of Delhi."