Gujjars gather across Rajasthan to court arrest

By IANS

Jaipur : Thousands of Gujjars were Tuesday seen gathering in different places across Rajasthan as they prepared to court arrest, pressing for their community’s inclusion in the scheduled tribe category. Heavy security was in place throughout the state to prevent violence.


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As many as around 9,000 Gujjars had assembled in Kota, over 6,000 in Jaipur, over 5,000 in Bharatpur and around 2,500 in Rajsamand before noon as part of their planned non-violent protest.

Enthusiastic Gujjars, many sporting colourful turbans, were seen trooping in hundreds from their villages and shouting slogans against Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

One slogan said: “Yeh diwane kahan chale, jail chale, jail chale” (where are these people going… to jail, to jail).

Some were even spotted dancing and singing atop tractors as they passed through various villages to reach their destination.

And a majority of them were not seen carrying their sticks as they have decided to observe a non-violent protest, emulating Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence on his birth anniversary Tuesday.

Gujjars, presently categorised as other backward classes (OBC), held protests all over Rajasthan from May 29 to June 4 demanding their inclusion in the scheduled tribe category that would give them better employment and educational opportunities.

Normal life was paralysed and at least 26 people were killed in the violence during that last round of agitations.

“On Gandhi Jayanti day, thousands of Gujjars would court arrest in a non-violent way … over 100,000 in Bharatpur alone where Colonel K.L. Bainsla (head of the Gujjar Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti) would court arrest,” Roop Singh, a Gujjar leader, had said earlier.

“If the government does not accept our demands by Oct 11, another 200,000 women will start filling the jails in the state,” said Prahlad Gunjal, another community leader.

Security has been beefed up with over 70,000 police personnel deployed across the state, and additional forces from the centre have also been called in.

Around 260 makeshift jails have been set up across Rajasthan to accommodate around 200,000 people who plan to court arrest. “We are ready to tackle the situation. We will take into custody all those who court arrest,” said state Home Minister Gulab Chand Katariya.

“We will not allow any one to block roads or to disrupt the law and order situation,” he added. The assembly of five or more persons has been prohibited in 18 of the state’s 33 districts.

Gujjar milkmen have decided to stop distribution of milk across Rajasthan from Tuesday.

“We will not distribute milk till the Vasundhara Raje government sends a letter to the centre recommending tribal status for the community,” said Ramphool Singh, a Gujjar.

Students suffered as studies in some government schools have been halted and school buildings converted into makeshift jails. Class tests are scheduled to begin in most schools by Oct 15.

About 11 educational institutions in Jaipur alone — including three colleges, three primary schools and five secondary schools — have been converted into temporary jails.

“Why should a protest be held at our expense? Our studies have been completely ruined. The government should have taken other buildings for jails…why educational institutions?” asked Radhika Patwari, a Class 8 student.

Officials said alternative arrangements had been made.

“We have made an alternate arrangement for students of the schools occupied for administrative use. Arrangements have been made in nearby schools for the students so that studies can continue uninterrupted,” an education department official told IANS.

Parents however were an angry lot. “Do you think my child can study in this way? The government should have decided some other way of tackling the situation,” said Ladu Ram, who has two school-going children.

Indo-Asian News Service

For clarifications/queries, please contact IANS NEW

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