Day 2: Gujjars intensify job quota stir; train services hit

As hundreds of agitators squatted on tracks along the Delhi-Mumbai route, members of the Gujjar community earlier in the day rejected the state government’s offer for talks on their demand for five per cent quota in jobs, Several trains have been diverted,  while traffic on the Bharatpur-Hindaun road has been affected, police said.

Bainsla announced his readiness to hold parleys after holding talks with his community members at a meeting in Bharatpur during which he discussed a letter sent by the government inviting their leaders for talks either in Jaipur or Bharatpur.

A district administration official had handed over the letter to Bainsla earlier in the day in which the government offered to hold talks but the offer was initially not accepted by Gujjars, who were demanding that its emissaries come to the rail tracks at Pilupura for the parleys.

“We are ready for talks, if not on tracks, then in Bayana town. Bainsla took the decision after discussing our community people and a delegation would go to <g data-gr-id="38">Bayana</g> tomorrow,” Himmat Singh, spokesperson of the Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti, said.

Singh said the district administration would be informed about the composition of the delegation. Bainsla has deputed three persons, including himself, to lead the delegation of 23 members, he added. There was no immediate confirmation from the government about the proposed meeting with Gujjars in Bayana on Saturday.

District Collector Ravi Jain said he was yet to receive a formal intimation from Gujjar leaders. The Gujjars began their agitation on Thursday, demanding 5 per cent reservation in government jobs under the legal limit of 50 <g data-gr-id="31">per cent</g>.

The agitators are squatting on the Delhi-Mumbai rail tracks between <g data-gr-id="35">Dumaria</g> and Fatehsinghpura stations of Kota Division of West Central railway forcing railway authorities to cancel and divert some trains.

14 trains have been <g data-gr-id="30">cancelled,</g> while 16 other trains have been diverted via alternate routes, according to a railway bulletin.

The agitators squatting on the railway tracks have reportedly damaged the tracks by removing some fish plates.