Gujjars agree to resume talks

A major hurdle was cleared on Thursday in the way of resumption of dialogue between the Rajasthan government and agitating Gujjars when a fast track court at Dausa granted bail to 24 Gujjars women agitators who were arrested by the police on June 6 for damaging the railway track at Bandikui in Dausa.

Chairman of Rajasthan Gujjar Arakshan Samiti, Col Kirori Singh Bainsla had put precondition to the state government to release of Gujjars women and men from the jails to resume the negotiations at Jaipur on Thursday.

Nothing is yet certain about the fate of 15 Gujjars agitators who were arrested from Jaipur SMS hospital after doctors discharged them on June 7.

State government representative and principal secretary S.N.Thanvi said “a fast track court judge Dausa ,Bhuwan Goel granted the bail to the Gujjars women which has paved the way to start a main dialogue at Jaipur either today in the evening or tomorrow.”

Police officials Dausa said “the judge asked Gujjars women to furnish a personal bond of Rs 10,000 each and a surety of like amount for their release from prison.”

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Bandikui Rita Tejwani had rejected their bail pleas on Wednesday.

Principal secretary Rajasthan government ,Thanvi said, “A 28 member Gujjars delegation left for Jaipur at 3 pm in a private bus which will take 5 hours to cover the distance of about 220 km to reach the capital.”

"The bus has been escorted by the security vehicles. The government has assured Col Bainsla’s delegation to discuss every issue during the negotiations with the government and efforts will be made to find some amicable solution of the current crisis.” Thanvi said.

Col Bainsla said “ I will not participate in the main dialogue and my nominees will thrash out all issues with the government including main demand to get recommendations letter to centre to Get ST status.”

He said, “ I will definitely participate in the final round of the talks provided the outcome of the main dialogue is postive.”
The talks were stalled twice due to preconditions put forth by Col Bainsla. The preliminary dialogue was held at Bayana on June 9 and it took three days for the Gujjars leadership to send a delegation for main dialogue on Thursday.