Mayawati calls for ending Meena-Gujjar row

By IANS

Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Friday appealed to the Meena and Gujjar communities in Rajasthan to end their confrontation over the quota pie given to Scheduled Tribes, which has spilled over to neighbouring states of Haryana and Delhi too.


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"I wish to make an appeal to both the communities to thrash out an amicable solution and to maintain peace and harmony," Mayawati said at a press conference here.

Describing the clashes as "unfortunate", she hoped that they would soon achieve a compromise to resolve the on-going crisis.

Rajasthan remained virtually cut off from the rest of the country Friday with highways blocked and train tracks damaged as the Gujjar movement to demand tribe status spiralled out of control and the government issued shoot at sight orders in some areas.

The government tried desperately to bring things under control and prepared to hold its third round of talks with the large farming community, fighting for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status that would entitle them to quotas in jobs and education.

The talks on Thursday had ended inconclusively, leading to fresh tension on day four of the trouble. At least 22 people have been killed since Tuesday.

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