Leader of Gujjar agitation Col Kirori Singh Bainsla called off a proposed march to the state capital on Friday to demand reservation and decided to send an 11-member delegation to meet senior government officials and Congress leaders. Bainsla, presently in Ghazipur in Karauli district with his close lieutenants, said he would speak to the government if talks with the delegation went well.
Karauli district collector Neeraj K Pavan delivered the government?s message to Bainsla on Friday inviting him for a dialogue. Bainsla said, ?The government wanted to speak to us. If the talks are positive, I will also meet the state chief minister Ashok Gehlot.? However, he added that if talks proved inconclusive, the Gujjars would activate their initial plan of a four-pronged march to the Rajasthan Assembly in Jaipur from the districts of Karauli, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur and Ajmer.
?Our demands remain the same, granting 5% reservation for government recruitment is the top priority. Also, we wish no violence from our side under any circumstances,? Bainsla said. He added that he would continue to stay in Ghazipur and the mahapadavs in areas around Jaipur would also continue till an amiable situation was arrived at.
Sources said the 11-member delegation included prominent members from the community, but no members from the Gujjar Arakshan Samiti.
A Gujjar leader said, ?The 11 members were selected not from the Samiti so that they would remain neutral.?