Date:27/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/27/stories/2008052754090400.htm

New Delhi

Gujjars demand President’s Rule

Staff Reporter

Say Raje Govt. has no moral right to be in office; seek Centre’s intervention

Hold protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar; submit memorandum listing their demands
Central rule is the only answer if further violence is to be prevented, says Bidhuri

NEW DELHI: A large number of Gujjars held a protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar here on Monday demanding dismissal of the Vasundhra Raje Government in Rajasthan, imposition of President’s Rule, and intervention by the Centre to protect the lives and properties of members of the community and its leaders.

Led by Delhi MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri who is the chief patron of Akhil Bharatiya Gujjar Sangharsh Samiti, and its national president Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria, the protesters began their march from Jantar Mantar and tried to proceed to the Prime Minister’s residence. However, they were stopped by the police from going the distance and detained. Later the protesters submitted a memorandum listing their demands.

Addressing the protesters, the Samiti leaders said innocent people belonging to the Gujjar community had been shot dead by the police in Bharatpur, Dausa and other places in Rajasthan this past week. Holding the BJP Government in Rajasthan responsible for the “State-sponsored” attack on the innocent community, Mr. Bidhuri and Mr. Jaunapuria said “the Vasundhara Raje Government has no moral right to be in office as it has not only failed to protect its citizens but has also become a party to their killing.”

Mr. Bidhuri said the Prime Minister should immediately convene a meeting of the Union Cabinet to discuss the “serious situation” in Rajasthan and impose President’s Rule without any hesitation as “the Constitutional machinery in the State has collapsed”.

Lamenting that a large number of young boys from the Gujjar community had died in police firing, Mr. Bidhuri said: “There is no room for any rapprochement and therefore Central rule is the only answer if further violence is to be prevented.” The Gujjar leaders also accused the Rajasthan Government of going back on its promises. Mr. Bidhuri and Mr. Jaunapuria said the State Government had earlier given the Gujjar leaders an assurance that it would write to the Union Government seeking Scheduled Tribe status for Gujjars in the State. Also, it had promised to provide employment to the families of Gujjars killed in the agitation last year; Rs.10 lakh compensation to the next of kin of the deceased and withdrawal of all cases against Gujjar leaders and Rs.1 lakh compensation to those injured in police firing.

One year after the agitation, Mr. Bidhuri said, not one of the promises had been fulfilled. He said it was high time the Rajasthan Government was ousted and warned that the agitation would only intensify if the demands of the Gujjars were not met.