Will Gujjar quota stir intensify? Crucial meeting underway: Top developments

New Delhi:

Gurjar leader Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla and his supporters have blocked railway tracks in Maksudanpura of Sawai Madhopur in protest as part of reservation movement. The protesters are demanding five per cent reservation to Gurjars, Raika-Rebari, Gadia Luhar, Banjara and Gadaria communities in government jobs and educational institutions. Before starting their agitation, members of the Gujjar Sangharsh Samiti (GSS) had called a ‘Mahapanchayat’ on Friday.

"We want five per cent reservation for our community, the way the Centre has given 10 per cent to the economically backward classes. The government did not respond to our demand, neither did anyone come to talk to us, so we were forced to take this step," Kirori Singh Bainsla had said.

Here are the latest updated regarding the quota stir:

• Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot appealed to the Gurjar Community that they should not sit on rail tracks, adding that their demands can only be met after amendments in the Constitution, so they should submit a memo to the PM.
  
• Women have joined the quota stir as a crucial meeting is underway to chalk out a strategy to intensify the protest. The meeting is being held under the leadership of Manphool Singh in Sikandra.
• Five trains were cancelled and around a dozen have been diverted in Kota division of West Central Railway zone due to the ongoing reservation movement by the Gujjar community in Rajasthan.
• Additional police forces have been deployed in Bharatpur police range - under which Sawai Madhopur falls - to tackle any law-and-order situation. According to Bhupendra Sahu, inspector general of Bharatpur Range, 17 RAC (Rajasthan Armed Constabulary) companies, including a special task force, have been deployed in the range.

Members of Gujjar community sitting on railway track in Maksudanpura of Sawai Madhopur in protest as part of reservation movement say "We have good CM&a good PM. We want that they listen to the demands of Gujjar community. It isn't an uphill task for them to provide reservation." pic.twitter.com/lM4TDF7WRh

— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2019

• Congress sources said a committee, comprising Health Minister Raghu Sharma, Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh, Social Justice Minister Master Bhanwar Lal and senior government officials, had been constituted to hold talks with the agitators. Kirori Singh Bainsla had last month gave a 20-day ultimatum to the state government to clear its stand on over the reservation demand, failing which he threatened of reviving the quota agitation.

Five trains cancelled and one diverted in Kota division of West Central Railway zone due to the ongoing reservation movement by the Gujjar community in Rajasthan. pic.twitter.com/jCf1y9g8LD

— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2019

• " People cannot be fooled all the time. It is a fight to do or die. The state government should stand on its promise. It will be a peaceful protest. I will lead the protest and the youths will support," Bainsla said. 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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