Gujjar leader says yes to talks with Gehlot on Bill

July 28, 2009:The Hindu

Gehlot to meet Gujjar delegation

Situation at Penchla Mod peaceful

JAIPUR: Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla on Monday agreed to hold “direct talks¶ with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on the issue of the Bill for special reservation to Gujjars, even as the “mahapadaav¶ (grand siege) of the Gujjars at Penchla Mod near Hindaun town in Karauli district continued for the second day.

Col. Bainsla told reporters after two rounds of talks with the senior police officers at the ‘mahapadaav’ venue that the State government had shown a “positive inclination¶ on the issue and he had received signals that the government concurred in principle with the community’s demand for quota in a special category.

The Gujjar supremo said he would be travelling to Jaipur with a delegation of leaders on Monday night for negotiations with Mr. Gehlot, expected to be “short, crisp and to-the-point.¶

“We just have to get clarifications about the Bill, which is ready and is to be signed by the Governor and implemented,¶ he said.

The Bill, passed in the Assembly during the previous Bharatiya Janata Party regime, provides for five per cent reservation to the Gujjars and certain other tribes as a special category and 14 per cent quota for the economically backward classes. The Bill has since been lying with Governor S.K. Singh for his assent.

Col. Bainsla said the Gujjars were forced to organise a “mahapanchayat¶ and the mahapadaav, with a 24-hour ultimatum to the State government, after waiting for eight months: “There had been no response from the State government even though the Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti took up the matter a number of times.¶

Col. Bainsla, who unsuccessfully fought the recent Lok Sabha election on BJP ticket from Sawai Madhopur, denied that he was under political pressure to raise the issue at this juncture. He said the mahapadaav would continue during the talks in Jaipur.

Calls on Governor

According to the sources in the Chief Minister’s Office, the meeting of Mr. Gehlot with the Gujjar delegation is likely to be convened on Tuesday morning.

Mr. Gehlot called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Monday evening after the latter’s return here following his treatment abroad.

The situation at Penchla Mod was peaceful and under control and there were reportedly no indications of the Gujjars planning any violence.

Col. Bainsla, accompanied by another leader Capt. Hari Prasad, repeatedly called upon the mahapadaav participants to remain peaceful and maintain discipline throughout the day.

CM’s initiative

The initiative for negotiations was taken by Mr. Gehlot, who announced that there was a “standing offer¶ for talks with the Gujjars on the issue of reservation.

He said on the State Assembly premises that the Gujjars were free to suggest the name of any legal expert or lawyer, whose legal opinion would be sought in the matter.