Gujjar agitation: 23 trains cancelled, 20 diverted as dharna for 5% reservation enters second day

As many as 20 trains were cancelled and 23 diverted on Saturday after members of the Gujjar community continued to block railway tracks on the second day of their agitation.

No untoward incident has been reported so far due to the Gujjar agitation. (Image: PTI)

Gujjar agitation: As many as 20 trains were cancelled and 23 diverted on Saturday after members of the Gujjar community continued to block railway tracks on the second day of their agitation demanding implementation of 5 per cent reservation which was assured to them the Rajasthan government. According to reports, the agitating group kept sitting on the railway tracks near Swai Madhopur-Bayana railway section in Kota division of Rajasthan. The blocked railway line connects have major trains running from Delhi to Mumbai. North Western Railway (NWR) Chief Public Relations Officer Abhay Sharma said three trains, including Hazrat Nizamuddin-Ahmedabad, Hazrat Nizamuddin-Udaipur and Udaipur-Hazrat Nizamuddin were cancelled whereas Firozpur Cantt-Mumbai train was diverted, reported PTI. The protesters are demanding five per cent reservation to Gujjars, Raika-Rebari, Gadia Luhar, Banjara and Gadaria communities in government jobs and educational institutions. Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla and his supporters continued their sit-in on the rail tracks and have said that they will not move till five per cent reservation was given. Bainsla also said the government had promised five per cent reservation to the community in its election manifesto so the state government was liable to give the same so that the people can return home gracefully. Vijay Bainsla, another Gujjar leader, said they have been waiting for talks with the government since the last 20 days on their demand. He said agitators blocked Jaipur-Delhi, Jodhpur-Bhilwara, Ajmer-Bhilwara highway on Saturday. GP (Law and order) M L Lather said no untoward incident has been reported so far due to the Gujjar agitation. Our teams are alert and the deadlock may soon be over after today's meeting with the committee constituted by the government. Currently, the five communities are getting one per cent separate reservation under the most-backwards category in addition to the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota. Newly elected chief minister Ashok Gehlot had said the government was ready to hold talks. “The government is serious in resolving the issue and ready to hold talks. The Congress government had heard the issues in the previous tenure and made efforts at the state level. I appeal people to maintain peace.” he said. 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.