New Delhi : A fresh round of talks between a Gujjar delegation led by Kirori Singh Bainsla and a committee of three Rajasthan ministers began here this evening to resolve the stand-off over the issue of 5 per cent job reservation as demanded by the community. It is likely to be final talks between the two sides as the ministers and Bainsla have indicated positive development.
Meanwhile, concerned over rail and road routes between Delhi and Mumbai remaining paralysed for the eighth day, the Centre on Thursday rushed 4,500 paramilitary personnel to the riot-hit Bharatpur district to handle the Gujjar agitation for reservation and asked the Rajasthan government to break up the blockade.
The Home Ministry is monitoring the situation, remaining in constant touch with the state government in Jaipur which reported that the Gujjars demanding five per cent reservation in the government jobs were still blocking the Delhi-Mumbai rail route and Jaipur-Agra national highway while negotiations are on to end the stand-off.
The central forces are being dispatched from different parts of the country and some have already reached the troubled spots, a Home Ministry official said.
All central forces have been put under the command of the Inspector General of CRPF’s Rajasthan sector at Jaipur as the nodal officer.
CRPF has the highest number of 28 out of 60 companies of the central forces, while other personnel are from the BSF and ITBP. The CRPF continent also includes four companies of RAF (Rapid Action Force).
Its 15 companies moved to the troubled spots on Thursday.
The agitators have been blocking rail tracks and roads in three districts for a week, squatting on the railway tracks in Pilukapura in Bharatpur, on NH-11 at Sikandara in Dausa and a state highway in Sawaimadhopur.
Karauli district is also affected by the agitation, the Home Ministry official said.
About the meeting with the Rajasthan ministers, Bainsla said that the two sides have progressed on the issue and expected that the meeting would be fruitful.
