5 Trains Cancelled, 15 Diverted as Gujjars Block Tracks

 SMTV Desk 2019-02-09 13:26:15  gujjar community, rajasthan government, trains cancelled, Delhi-Jaipur-Agra
5 Trains Cancelled, 15 Diverted as Gujjars Block Tracks

Jaipur, Feb 09: Gujjar community members continued to block railway tracks on the 2nd day of their agitation today to demand implementation of the 5 per cent reservation that was promised to them by the Rajasthan government.

Disturbing Gujjars sat on railway tracks at Malarna Doongar near Sawai Madhopur, leading to the cancellation of 5 trains and the re-routing of 15.

The blocked railway line in the West Central Railway connects Delhi to Mumbai. The Delhi-Jaipur-Agra line, however, remains clear.

Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla started a dharna yesterday along with his supporters on the railway tracks in Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district, demanding reservation for 5 communities including Gujjars.

The unrest comes nearly a month after 10 per cent quota for the economically weaker sections in the general category in jobs and education was cleared by parliament. The move was introduced as a constitutional amendment, passed in parliament and executed in a matter of days.

However, the validity of the 10 per cent quota will be examined by the Supreme Court. The government has argued that since the bill provides reservation on basis of income, not caste, it was not subject to the 50 per cent bar.

The Gujjars say if 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward can be passed, then why not for them.

The Rajasthan government has formed a three-member committee comprising cabinet ministers to lead talks with the Gujjar community. The Rajasthan government had assured the Gujjar community of 5 per cent reservation in a special category in 2017 after a bout of agitation.

It had planned to expand the reservation for Other Backward Classes from 21 per cent to 26 per cent and give 5 per cent reservation to Gujjars and other castes. After the expansion, the total reservation in the state would have crossed the 50 per cent ceiling set by the Supreme Court.

The bill to this effect, which was introduced in the monsoon session of the state assembly in 2017, was put on hold by the Rajasthan High Court after an appeal against it.

The community has held four agitations for reservations from 2007 up to 2015, where they blocked rail and road traffic. In 2007 and 2008, more than 70 people had died in the clashes during the agitation. In 2010 and 2015 though, only rail and road traffic was disrupted.