Bainsla washes off his hands from violent Gujjar protests

Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla, who shot into prominence during the recent violent protests by his community members demanding Scheduled Tribe status, today said that responsible Gujjar leaders and activists did not indulge in violent protests.

New Delhi, June 13 : Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla, who shot into prominence during the recent violent protests by his community members demanding Scheduled Tribe status, today said that 'responsible' Gujjar leaders and activists did not indulge in violent protests.

"We have not damaged any Government property during the Bandh from May 29 till the last day, it was a peaceful bandh," Bainsla told reporters.

In the wake of Supreme Court's admonition, lambasting the administration and police of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi for allowing the rioters to go scot-free, Rajasthan police has pressed murder charges against Bainsla. The weeklong protests by the Gujjars that began in Dausa, spread to the different States and led to the death of 25 people, but reports suggest that at least 30 people may have been killed.

Several people were injured in the clashes, since they first broke out on May 29.

Gujjar's demand of ST status has been opposed by the Meena community, which too falls in the ST category, leading to violent clashes between the two communities.

Gujjars claim that the Rajasthan BJP Government had promised them ST status when they came to power in 2003.

The protests came to an end on June 4 after Rajasthan Government agreed to set up a high-level three-member committee to look into the Gujjars demand.

Bainsla said that he was hopeful of positive outcome from the report of the three-member committee.

The newly formed Akhil Bharatiya Gujjar Sangharsh Samiti announced that it would approach the Supreme Court soon to seek an independent probe into the incidents of loot, arson and killing of Gujjar community.

The leaders of the group also said that they would visit Jaipur on June 19 to disburse compensation to those killed and injured during the recent agitation.

The next of kin of those killed would be paid rupees one lakh each, while the injured would be given rupees 10,000 compensation by the Samiti.

"We are giving money to the people who died, the women and children who were burnt during the bandh as no action has been taken by the State government till now. So we want to request the Supreme Court to inquire about the people who were killed during the Bandh. We have already apologised for the violence which took place at Delhi and other parts of the State," said Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria, MLA and president of the Sangharsh Samiti.

ANI