Rajasthan: Gujjars on war path

The Gujjars in Rajasthan are resuming their agitation on Tuesday to demand ST status for the community.

Huge security arrangements have been put into place in Rajasthan as lakhs of Gujjars are expected to court arrest.

Around 235 makeshift jails have been set up across Rajasthan and hundreds of trucks and buses readied to take into custody, thousands of agitating Gujjars who plan to court arrest, demanding ST status for their community.

After an agreement in June this year, the Rajasthan government had set up the Chopra Committee to look into their demands but with the Chopra Committee asking for more time, the Gujjars are once again on the war path.

''More than five lakh Gujjars will court arrest. But if the government does not give in to our demands by the October 11, another two lakh women will start filling the jails in the state,'' said Prahlad Gunjal , Gujjar Leader.

Incidents of violence had marked the Gujjar agitation in June this year and this time around the government is taking no chances.

More than 70,000 police personnel have been deployed across the state and additional forces from the centre have also been called in.

''We are ready. We will take into custody all those who court arrest and keep them in jail for as long as they want. But we will treat them as prisoners,'' said Gulab Chand Katariya, Home Minister, Rajasthan.

Since the Gujjars launched their agitation, the sizable Meena community has been opposing any move to give them ST status and with thousands of Gujjars marching across the state, the government will also be at pains to avoid caste tension between these two politically volatile communities.