Talks with Gujjars start well, today’s bandh off

The 16-day-long violent Gujjar agitation, which left at least 43 persons dead and several more injured, saw the first signs of a breakthrough on Monday after the first round of talks between the agitators and the Rajasthan government at Bayana in Bharatpur district, the epicentre of the protest.

Appearing satisfied over the way the preliminary discussions had progressed, the Gujjars, agitating for Scheduled Tribe status for their community, have decided to withdraw the nationwide bandh they had called on Tuesday.

Describing the Bayana talks as “amicable”, community leaders agreed to attend the next round of discussions in Jaipur. The leader of the agitation, Col. Kirori Singh Bainsla (Retd), who refused to participate in Monday’s discussions personally, said these talks had been “fruitful” and that he was not opposed to the idea of sending community members to Jaipur “for further discussions” with Rajasthan government representatives.

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