[Assam] Violence Does Pay in India/ From ToI

[Chan Mahanta]

NOW they are talking!

Can there be a better examples for others to emulate?

cm










Raje, Gujjars hold fourth round of talks
2 Jun, 2007 l 1727 hrs ISTlIANS

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JAIPUR: Amid comparative calm in Rajasthan after four days, Chief 
Minister Vasundhara Raje and Gujjar leaders met on Saturday afternoon 
for the fourth round of talks over the latter's demand for tribal 
status that has sparked widespread violence.

At the talks, held at the chief ministers' residence, Vasundhara Raje 
led the government team of ministers and officials while the Gujjar 
community was represented by over 10 leaders.

Talks started on a positive note, said official sources, adding that 
there was a hope of ending the crisis soon.

As all eyes were fixed on the outcome of the talks, Rajasthan 
remained calm except for reports of burning of a police post in Tonk 
district.

The trouble started Tuesday when a road blockade announced by the 
Gujjars to press for their demand for Scheduled Tribe status took a 
violent turn during which 14 people were killed in clashes between 
agitators and police.

"No major incidence of violence was reported from any part of the 
state since Friday evening, after four days of trouble in which some 
25 people were killed in police firing and group clashes," a senior 
police official said.

"We are hopeful of a positive outcome from the final round of talks 
with the chief minister," Gujjar leader Roop Singh said before going 
for parleys.

"This would be the final round of talks. If nothing comes out of 
this, the consequences will be the sole responsibility of the 
government," he added.

The previous round of talks on Friday night between the government 
and the representatives of the Gujjar Sangharsh Committee, the body 
spearheading the community's campaign, ended inconclusively.

An ugly caste conflict looms large in Rajasthan with Gujjars and 
Meenas clashing over the quota pie given to Scheduled Tribes. The 
Meena community is the dominant Scheduled Tribe community in the 
state.

On Friday, five people were killed and 20 injured in clashes between 
the two groups in Rajasthan's Dausa and Karauli districts, taking the 
death toll to 25 since the Gujjar fury erupted May 29, officials said.

The trouble started Friday when the Meenas tried to remove roadblocks 
put up by the Gujjars in Dausa. Intervention by the police and army 
averted further clashes between the two communities.

The Gujjar movement demanding tribal status, which they feel will 
improve their economic status, has paralysed rail and road traffic in 
many parts of Rajasthan.

Thousands have been stranded at railway stations and bus depots as 
the Gujjars continue to block highways leading to Agra, New Delhi and 
Madhya Pradesh.

But the government said the Jaipur-Delhi highway had been cleared but 
people are not willing to take the highway. The railways plan to run 
a few trains on the Bharatpur and Jaipur sectors on Saturday.

The Rajasthan administration has also decided to evacuate over 5,000 
pilgrims stranded in Mehendipur, on the Jaipur-Agra highway, with the 
help of the Army.

"We are taking steps to clear the traffic jams on various highways. 
We have also started running some buses on the Jaipur-Delhi route," 
Rajasthan Transport Minister Younis Khan said.
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