Gujjars mahapanchayat on ST status demand begins

Thousands of Gujjars from across the country are participating in the Gujjar Mahapanchayat that began here today to decide future action plan on the communitys demand for a Scheduled Tribe status.

Puskhar (Rajasthan), June 24 : Thousands of Gujjars from across the country are participating in the Gujjar Mahapanchayat that began here today to decide future action plan on the community's demand for a Scheduled Tribe status.

Gujjars from Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are attending the Mahapanchayat.

Top Gujjar leaders, including Gujjar Aarkshan Sangarsh Samiti leader Kirori Singh Bhainsala, are participating.

Tight security arrangements have been made at the Mahapanchayat's venue -- mela ground - here. The Ajmer District Administration has imposed prohibitory orders in the district apart from the mela ground.

The police have restricted the entry with arms at the mela ground, and Gujjar leaders have been instructed against making provocative speeches.

According to Rajasthan Yuva Gujjar Mahasabha President Govind Singh Gujjar, the Mahapanchayat will form a national executive, which will take up the community's demand for ST status with the Centre.

Nearly a week long violent agitation by the Gujjars in the beginning of this month claimed at least 29 lives in different parts of Rajasthan.

Gujjars' agitation was called off after the Rajasthan Government agreed to set up a three-member committee to look into their demand for ST status.

The Mahapanchayat would also examine the agreement the Gujjars had with the Rajasthan government.

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

ANI