Gujjars disrupt traffic in National Capital Region, Bainsla sticks to communitys demands

Hundreds of Gujjars, demanding Scheduled Tribe status for their community, blocked highways linked to Delhi and clashed with police at some places on Monday, even as Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti Convenor Colonel (retired) Kirori Bainsla said the agitation would not be withdrawn until their demand for ST status was met.

New Delhi, June 4 : Hundreds of Gujjars, demanding Scheduled Tribe status for their community, blocked highways linked to Delhi and clashed with police at some places on Monday, even as Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti Convenor Colonel (retired) Kirori Bainsla said the agitation would not be withdrawn until their demand for ST status was met.

On their seventh day of protests, Gujjars burnt down two buses in the Capital.

Police said the protesters had congregated along at least four major highways linking Delhi and tried to disrupt traffic, adding that there were sporadic clashes between police and demonstrators in some areas.

Gujjars blocked key roads linking the capital to Panipat, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad.

Traffic jams are being reported from various corners. Commuters have also called in with complaints of being stranded midway between their homes and places of work.

Stick-wielding demonstrators blocked important roads causing massive traffic jams.

The National Highway-24 linking Delhi to Ghaziabad and Lucknow was closed and a police party kept vigil at the Ghazipur Chowk.

Ram Singh, a protester, claimed that their protest was peaceful and did not intend to disturb anybody.

"The protest is peaceful and we have not disturbed anything. We are getting full support from the locals from all communities, who have shut shops. We are educated people and are doing this so that our demands are met," said Ram Singh.

The highway linking satellite town of Noida to Delhi was blocked by protesters, who burnt effigies of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Gujjars have accused Raje of ignoring their demands.

Protesters also disrupted rail traffic near Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border.

An official said two passenger trains were stopped after protesters blocked the tracks.

Many shopkeepers said that they were forced to get involved in the agitation by shutting their shops.

Praveen Singh, a shop owner said, "We had to be involved in their agitation because we fear for our lives".

The Delhi Police have made adequate arrangements in view of the shutdown. Police personnel have been deployed in sensitive areas, who are keeping a close vigil on developments.

Meanwhile, Gujjar leader Bainsla ahead of holding talks with Chief Minister Raje said the community will continue its agitation for a ST status.

Bainsla finally agreed to the talks on condition that he would be provided army security and would not be arrested while on his way to Jaipur.

He also urged the State Government to come up with a concrete plan to resolve the prevailing tension in the State.

Earlier this week, Gujjar protests, which began in Dausa, spread to the outskirts of Delhi.

The official Gujjar death toll is said to be 25, but there are reports suggesting that at least 30 people may have been killed. Several have been injured in the clashes since they first broke out on May 29 after the Gujjars forwarded a demand to be declared a Scheduled Tribe (ST).

The demand has been opposed by the Meena community, which falls in the ST category, leading to violent clashes between the two communities.

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

The agitators have called for the resignation of the Vasundhara Raje Government immediately. They also demanded a CBI probe into the incidents of police firing in which 'innocent' Gujjars were killed.

ANI