Gujjars' sit-in for reservation hits train, bus traffic

Rail services were hit as thousands of Gujjars continued to sit on the railway tracks in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district for the second day on Friday demanding five percent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. Road traffic was also affected.

The sit-in at Pilu Ka Pura area in Bharatpur district affected the movement of at least 50 trains, including those on the Delhi-Mumbai section. The state roadways also cancelled some buses on the route where the Gujjars were holding their protest.

"The state government has sent us a letter for holding talks with a cabinet committee. Our leaders will decide on the future course of action after talking to the protesters," Himmat Singh, spokesperson of the Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti, told IANS on the phone.

Gujjars in Rajasthan are demanding the reservation under SBC (special backward class) category.

"We want five percent reservation under the SBC category and that should be within the upper limit of 50 percent reservation," Singh said.

Gujjars had staged violent protests between 2006 and 2008 to demand reservations, in which at least 67 people lost their lives and hundreds of others were injured. "We are open for talks with anyone.... I strongly feel that talks can resolve all issues," Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria told reporters here.

"The matter is before the court and I can assure them that the state government will do its best to resolve the issue at the earliest," said Kataria.