The Rajasthan government has deputed Irrigation Minister Sanwarmal Jat and Mines Minister Laxmi Narayan Dave to hold preliminary talks with the agitating Gujjars at Bayana on Monday. The government has decided to send both ministers, conceding Bainsla's demand to hold the talks in Bayana and not in Jaipur as wanted by the government, they said. The state government and Gujjars broke the stalemate over where to meet on Sunday and agreed to hold preliminary talks in Bayana.
Attempts to end the 16-day-old agitation by the state government to bring 70-year-old Bainsla to the negotiating table failed on Saturday as the two sides refused to budge on their stand over the choice of the venue. The government had this time conveyed its decision that the talks be held only in Jaipur in a letter to Bainsla, camping in Bharatpur's Karwadi-Pilupura area, the agitation hotbed, through it chief negotiator S N Thanvi.
Talks resumed in Jaipur on Wednesday between Rajasthan government and agitating Gujjars who have been blocking rail tracks and roads in three districts for a week now to press for five per cent quota in government jobs.
Pressing for 5 per cent reservation, Gujjars on Sunday intensified their agitation by blocking highways in parts of Rajasthan and threatening to expand it across the state as they alleged that the state government had failed to offer any concrete proposal to meet their demand.
Gujjars remained adamant for calling the committee of ministers at Bayana in Bharatpur for holding talks to resolve the issue
The SP said the protesters also pelted stones, injuring four jawans, adding that police had to lob tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
Gujjar protesters blocked the Delhi-Mumbai rail route and a key national highway for the fifth day on Monday after negotiations with the government over their demand of five per cent quota were stalled due to disagreement over the meeting venue.
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