By Sahil Makkar, IANS
Bayana (Rajasthan) : Jagan Gujjar, a bandit wanted in several cases of murder, extortion and kidnapping, has threatened to blow up Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s palace if the Gujjars’ demand for tribal staus was not met. The community, however, distanced itself from the threat.
“I would blow up Vasundhara’s palace in Dholpur area if she doesn’t give Gujjars the status of the Scheduled Tribe,” Jagan told a TV news channel.
Asked if blowing up the palace would deliver Gujjars the tribal status, he said: “At least we will take revenge for the killing of our 37 people in police firing.”
The Gujjar community, currently classified among the other backward classes (OBCs), has been agitating for the Scheduled Tribe status with a view to gaining access to better education and job opportunities. Their protests turned violent last week, leading to 37 killings.
Jagan’s comments forced Gujjar leader Colonel (retd) K.S. Bainsla to attempt some quick damage control, as the Rajasthan government has repeatedly alleged that goons, criminals and dacoits have been running the Gujjar agitation.
“We have nothing to do with Jagan and his threat. He is not part of our community. If we had to blow up her palace, why would we sit on railways tracks? We would have done it earlier, if we wanted to do,” he said.
“We are protesting peacefully and would continue to do so,” he added.
Bharatpur Superintendent of Police Rohit Mahajan told IANS: “We do not know about the threat. But we are soon going to launch a massive campaign against him (Jagan). He would not be spared.”
“We challenge him to come out of the place where thousands of Gujjars are protesting. We may go and arrest him, but we don’t want innocent people to be killed in ambush with him,” Mahajan added.