Gujjars on strike against government, Demanding 5% separate reservation
Gujjars on strike against government, Demanding 5% separate reservation.
On Friday morning at Jaipur, Hundreds of people from the Gujjar community blocked railway tracks at Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan on Friday, demanding that the state government implement the 5% reservation it had promised them before forming government in Rajasthan.
Due to the protest, four trains were terminated, whereas several were diverted after protesters sat on railway tracks in Sawai Madhopur. Gujjar leader Kirodi Singh Bainsla who is spearheading the protest, told DH, “We had asked the state government to clear its stand on the reservation to the communities in government jobs and educational institutes. But the government hasn’t responded so far. We want a 5% reservation”.
Bainsla last month gave a 20-day “ultimatum” to the state government to clear its stand on reservation to the communities in government jobs and educational institutes, failing which he threatened of reviving the quota agitation.
As the deadline lapsed Friday, Bainsla after holding a ‘Maha Panchayat’ at Malarna Dungar in Sawai Madhopur district, started the sit-in along with his supporters, blocking trains. “Things are changing fast. I have not come here but the crowd has brought me on the railway tracks. People cannot be fooled all the time. It is a fight to do or die. State government should stand on its promise. It will be a peaceful protest. I will lead the protest and the youths will support,” Bainsla told reporters.
As the protest started, high-level meetings were held in the state capital to find out ways to pacify the agitators. The protestors are demanding five per cent separate reservation to Gujjars, Raika-Rebari, Gadia Luhar, Banjara and Gadaria for government jobs and admission in educational institutions.
Currently, these communities are getting one per cent separate reservation under the legal limit of 50 per cent under the most-backward category in addition to OBC reservation.