Gujjars’ protest affects life in northern India

Pilupura (Rajasthan) : Train services in major parts of northern India were affected further on Thursday as the ethnic Gujjars intensified agitation after the Rajasthan High Court kept on hold the state government’s Reservation Act giving five per cent quota for the community in government jobs and educational institutions.

The protesters shouted slogans saying they would choke all traffic to Delhi and elsewhere after forcing the Indian Railways to divert routes of about 40 passenger trains through blockades.

They also vowed to resort to economic blockade like stopping supplies of milk to the national capital from Thursday and called bandh in Dausa and Ajmer districts of Rajasthan.

“The government has cheated us by not presenting our side very effectively in the High Court. It is injustice with us and now I have asked all my people not only in Rajasthan but outside the state also to launch the agitation,” said Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla.

“All the rail tracks and highways will be blocked all over the state soon and we are also asking Gujjars in Delhi to stop milk supply in support of our demands,” he added.

Train services on Delhi-Mumbai route continued to be affected for the fourth day on Thursday. The Union Home ministry dispatches about 1500 security personnel from Border Security Force and Central Reserve Police Force to assist the state government to tackle the situation.

The quota act that gives 5 per cent extra quota for Gujjars in government jobs and educational institutes has been kept in abeyance for a year.

The court has directed the state government to carry out an exercise within a year to establish the backwardness of Gujjars, Raikas, Raibari and Gadiya Lohar communities in the fields of education and government employment.