The Gujjar community on Friday began its agitation for five per cent reservation in state jobs and educational institutions.
Women of Gujjar community hold a dharna on the railway tracks in Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district. (Photo: IANS)
As the Gujjar community members continued their sit-in protest on rail tracks in Rajasthan’s Swai Madhopur district for the sixth consecutive day on Tuesday, pressing for their quota demand, the District Collector issued a notice to Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla, asking him to vacate railway tracks.
The Gujjar community on Friday began its agitation for five per cent reservation in state jobs and educational institutions.
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The protesters blocked the vital National Highway-11 connecting Agra and Jaipur with Delhi—the Golden Triangle tourist circuit.
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Internet services have been shut in Sawai Madhopur district till Thursday in the wake of ongoing protests.
The blockade by Gujjar Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti chief Bainsla and his supporters has forced the West Central Railway (CWR) to divert, cancel or partially terminate nearly 200 trains in the last two days.
On Tuesday, three trains were cancelled and two diverted.
A state government delegation, including Tourism minister Vishvendra Singh and senior IAS officer Neeraj K Pawan, Saturday met Bainsla and his supporters to hold talks, but no agreement could be reached.
Bainsla said the community will continue their protest demanding 5 per cent reservation to the Gujjars, Raika-Rebari, Gadia Luhar, Banjara and Gadaria communities in government jobs and educational institutions, as promised by the government in its election manifesto.
While targeting the Central government, Bainsla also warned the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan against doing anything to provoke the agitators.
Gujjars had given a 20-day ultimatum to the state government to clear its stand on providing the quota.
Currently, the five communities are getting one-per cent separate reservation under the most-backward category in addition to the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota.
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