Government Ready For Discussion With Gujjars: Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that his government was ready to open talks with Gujjars, but condemned the violence and blocking of road and train traffic by protesters in the state.

"The government is ready to open discussions with the agitating community," Mr Gehlot said adding that sitting on railway tracks as part of protest was unethical.

The agitation for reservation that entered its third day on Sunday turned violent as the protesters clashed with the police personnel near Dholpur, officials said.

The police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the protesters when they began pelting stones. Three police vehicles were also set on fire.

Five policemen were injured in the stone pelting. No arrests have been made, so far, senior police official Mohan Lal Lather said.

Three separate cases have been registered and investigations are on. Those flouting norms shall be dealt with iron hand, the police officer said.

The Chief Minister said the government would look into the issue and probe the violence that erupted in Dholpur on Sunday.

The Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (GASS) launched agitation on Friday and started blocking highways and traffic on the Delhi-Mumbai rail route.

They are demanding five per cent reservation in government jobs and education institutions.

Mr Lather said control rooms have been set up in the violence-hit areas of Rajasthan.

On the Gujjars' threat to intensify the agitation on Monday, Mr Lather said: "We have deputed additional forces in the violence-prone areas to tackle any untoward incident."

Early in the day, protesters tried to block the National Highway No. 3 near Dholpur, but the police intervened resulting into clashes.

On Saturday, Rajasthan Tourism Minister Vishwendra Singh and IAS officer Neeraj K. Pawan visited GASS chief, Col. Kirori Singh Bainsla (retd) near Malarna Dungar in the Sawai Madhopur district to hold negotiations. But these failed to make any headway.

While the rail traffic on the Delhi-Mumbai route remained disrupted for the third consecutive day on Sunday, the Kota Railway Division has cancelled 28 trains till February 13, and diverted 37 trains.

Around 18 trains scheduled to run on Sunday, 10 on Monday, 12 on Tuesday and 15 on Wednesday were cancelled, a Northern Railway official said.

GASS chief Mr Bainsla blamed anti-social elements, who have become a part of the protest, for the violence.