Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla
The Gujjar quota agitation, which had halted railway traffic on Delhi-Mumbai route, came to an end after eight days today. The leader Kirori Singh Bainsla said that they were ending the protest in the interest of the nation.
"I request that all the blockades across Rajasthan be removed immediately," he appealed to his supporters.
The agitation lasted for eight days as Gujjars and four other communities blocked railways tracks and highways in Rajasthan to demand five per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions.
"We are thankful to the chief minister for looking into the concerns of the community. We have received a written assurance from the government that it stand by the community if the bill passed by it faces legal hurdles," Vijay Bainsla, the son of Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla told PTI.
State Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh today met the representatives of the community to end the deadlock. He had met a Gujjar delegation on Friday as well but the talks remained inconclusive as they demanded a written assurance that necessary steps would be taken if their demands face legal hurdles.
Over a week-long dharna led by Kirori Bainsla on railway tracks and highways had inconvenienced travellers. The members of the Gujjar community had been blocking railway tracks and highways in Rajasthan for the past eight days, despite the state government releasing a notification to give 5 per cent reservation to them and four other agitating communities.
As per the North Western Railways spokesperson, 64 trains had to be cancelled, 71 diverted and 32 partially cancelled in the last eight days. The West Central spokesperson said 148 trains were cancelled, 143 diverted and 52 short terminated.
Bainsla and his supporters began their sit-in on the railway tracks in Malarna Dungar area of Sawai Madhopur district on February 8, demanding 5 per cent quota for Gujjar, Raika-Rebari, Gadia Luhar, Banjara and Gadaria communities in jobs and education.
The Rajasthan assembly on Wednesday passed a bill giving 5 per cent quota in government jobs and educational institutes to the Gujjars and four other communities agitating for it.
The Gujjar agitators were sitting on Mumbai-Delhi railway track near Malarna Dungar and Sawai Madhopur-Jaipur rail track at Chauth Ka Barwara in Sawai Madhopur district.
(With inputs from PTI)
