Violence continues in Rajasthan as Gujjar-Govt. talks fail

Rajasthan continues to be in throes of violence, and remaines cut off from rest of the country after talks between Gujjar leaders and the Vasundhra Raje Scindia Government collapsed.

Jaipur, June 01 : Rajasthan continues to be in throes of violence, and remaines cut off from rest of the country after talks between Gujjar leaders and the Vasundhra Raje Scindia Government collapsed.

Gujjars continue to block all national highways connecting the state with the rest of the country. Effigies of Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje Scindia are being burnt. Train services to and from the State have been disrupted following damage to the railway tracks.

Meanwhile, Gujjar leaders are expected to hold a meeting with the State Government today.

At least 20 people have been killed in the state since Gujjar's started their agitation.

Yesterday, four people were killed after police opened fire in Sawai Madhopur district.

Rajasthan is experiencing sporadic violence since May 29, when at least 14 people lost their lives over a Gujjar demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Reports of protestors torching Government properties and vehicles came in from Kota, Sawai Madhopur and Dausa, where the trouble originally started on Tuesday.

Security has been beefed up and the Army has been called in to assist the civil administration.

Meanwhile in an another major development, the Meenas, who are also a Schedule Tribe (ST) of Rajasthan, have threatened to launch an agitation if the Gujjars are included in ST list.

Meena community MLA's met yesterday to draw a roadmap to counter the agitation by the Gujjars. They fear that if the Gujjars are given ST statuts, they would lose some of the seats reserved for them.

The agitation acquired political overtones when Chief Minister said that she had not made any promise to give the Gujjars ST status, and added that only the Centre could take that decision.

Raje termed the clashes as 'unfortunate', but is yet to announce compensation for the victims. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress have traded charges and counter-charges over the incident. The BJP has urged Raje to bring the situation under control.

The community currently comes under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

ANI