Gujjar-government talks deadlocked
Hopes of resumption of the dialogue between agitating Gujjars and the Rajasthan Govt receded, as the two sides remained deadlocked on the issue of release of women protesters arrested during the stir for ST status.
india Updated: Jun 12, 2008 02:28 IST
The dialogue between Gujjars and the Rajasthan government was stalled once again with community leader KS Bainsala refusing to send his delegation to Jaipur for talks on Wednesday.
Bainsala took the decision under pressure from Gujjar agitators in Bayana and Sikandra, demanding the release of 25 women and 15 men protesters arrested during the course of the agitation.
“I will not accompany any delegation to Jaipur for the main dialogue with representatives of the state government.
The dialogue will take place only if the government releases the women and men arrested by the police,” Bainsala said. He said that if the protesters are released he would “definitely participate in the last round of the talks, which is bound to be held at the highest level in the government.”
Senior government officials said that police produced 25 women protesters at the court of additional chief judicial magistrate at Bandikui but the magistrate turned them away saying the matter was not in his jurisdiction.
The police had arrested 25 Gujjar women protesters at Bandikui for damaging a railway track on June 6.
Gujjars leaders camping at Bayana said, “The protesters have also put forth their demand to the government to release 15 Gujjar agitators arrested from SMS Hospital in Jaipur on June 7 after they were discharged by the doctors.” The agitators were admitted to the Hospital on May 24 after sustaining injuries in the Sikandra police firing.
