The Hindu : National : Gujjars plan fresh protests for ST status in Rajasthan

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Gujjars plan fresh protests for ST status in Rajasthan

Special Correspondent

Bainsla threatens to sit on “fast unto death” from today

— Photo: V. Sudershan

BATTLE FOR IDENTITY: All-India Gujjar Sangharsh Samiti chief patron Kirori Singh Bainsla (right) and MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri addressing a press conference on the reservation issue in New Delhi on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: All-India Gujjar Sangarsh Samiti chief patron Kirori Singh Bainsla on Saturday announced a new phase of agitation to seek Scheduled Tribe status for his community in Rajasthan and threatened to sit on a “fast unto death” from January 20 in support of this demand.

Peaceful agitation

Addressing a press conference here along with senior Gujjar leader and MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and others, Col. Bainsla declared that the Gujjars would launch a peaceful agitation for securing their rights from January 21.

He appealed to the people not to indulge in violence or destruction of public property.

He regretted that Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia had launched a crackdown against Gujjar leaders in Rajasthan and indiscriminate arrests were being made to quell the protest.

Mr. Bidhuri rejected the proposal floated by the Rajasthan government to provide for four to six per cent separate reservation for Gujjars, Gadiaya Lohar, Banjara and Rebari castes, asserting nothing short of the Scheduled Tribe status would satisfy them.

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