Gurjars’ agitation in Rajasthan called off after signing of agreement

Yash Goyal
Our Correspondent 
Jaipur, February 16

The nine-day-old Gurjar agitation was called off on Saturday after a written draft was signed between Gurjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (GASS) and the Rajasthan government on five points of demands.

The demands include 5 per cent quota to five communities--Gurjars, Raika, Banjara, Gadariya, Rebari--and their six sub-castes in education and government jobs based on economic criteria as per the bill cleared by the assembly recently.  

“GASS patron KS Bainsla and Rajasthan Tourism Minister Vishwendra Singh along with senior officers signed the draft at the agitation site of Malarana Dungar in Sawaimadhopur district,” Neeraj K Pawan, the state envoy, said.

The tracks, highways and roads are being cleared by the agitators on the call given by Bainsla, he said.

Among the 5-point draft, the GASS and the government agreed on 5 per cent reservation as notified on the bill passed by the state Assembly, a guarantee from the state government that if the bill gets stuck in legal tangle, the state government will immediately intervene and help the community. Backlog in services will be filled up for aspiring Gurjars, and there will be strengthening of Devnarayan Yojana and Board which were set up by the state government. 

Prominent Gurjar leader Himmat Singh, who parted ways with GASS last year, told the media on Friday that Bainsla was allegedly bargaining with the Congress government for vested interests.

The trains would resume their run on original routes via Sawaimadhopur district after restoration and inspection, according to WCR sources.