Gujjars call off agitation after Rajasthan govt promises them 5% quota in govt jobs

Gujjars called of their agitation late on Thursday after the Rajasthan government assured them of bringing a bill to provide them five percent quota in government jobs. Given the strike has been called off, the Rajdhani route between Mumbai and Delhi could be restored soon. [caption id=“attachment_2268374” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. PTI[/caption] The development comes after fresh talks between a Gujjar delegation led by Kirori Singh Bainsla and a committee of three Rajasthan ministers that began in Jaipur on Thursday evening to resolve the stand-off over the issue of 5 per cent job reservation as demanded by the community. These were expected to be the final talks between the two sides as the ministers and Bainsla had indicated positive development. “We hope to reach a consensus on the issue,” state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore had said before the meeting. Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla had said that the two sides had progressed on the issue and expected that the meeting would be fruitful. On issue of Rajasthan High Court’s direction to the state government on Wednesday to clear tracks and highways that Gujjar agitators have occupied, Bainsla said the community respects the court. However, the tracks have not been cleared so far. Meanwhile, Centre had dispatched 4,500 paramilitary personnel to Rajasthan to assist the state government in handling the agitation that has hit traffic on Delhi-Mumbai rail route and Jaipur-Agra national highway. The agitators had been blocking rail tracks and roads in three districts for over a week now to press for five per cent quota in government jobs. Members of the community are squatting on the railway track in Pilukapura in Bharatpur, on NH-11 at Sikandara in Dausa and a state highway in Sawaimadhopur. With PTI inputs