Agencies
Jaipur, May 26:
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje on Monday requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convene a meeting of Chief Ministers of concerned states to discuss the Gujjar issue.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, she said the issue was sensitive and the UPA government should take a decision on Scheduled Tribe status to Gujjars.
The Centre should frame a policy on the issue, Raje said in the letter, Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister RS Rathore told a press conference here.
Raje should come to Karwadi: Bainsla
Karwadi (Rajasthan):
Toughening his stand against the state government, Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla on Monday demanded that Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje should come to the agitation site and hold talks with the community members on the demand for ST status.
There is no question of "relenting" this time, Bainsla said, adding "if we do, then history will call us cowards". "Only Chief Minister Raje should come and talk to the community members present here. After all, we are her own people," Bainsala said.
He strongly disapproved of representatives of the government holding talks with the Gujjar community.
Accusing Raje of lacking "courage of conviction", Bainsla said "it is the responsibility of the head of an elected government to come and listen to the grievances of the people."
Contesting Raje's claim that she tried to contact him on Sunday from Bayana, the Gujjar leader said "no efforts were made from the CM's side to contact me."
Raje flew to Bayana on Sunday and stayed put for about 40 minutes in an attempt to hold talks with Bainsla who was here, about 15 km from Bayana, officials said.
Bainsla had claimed on Sunday that the chief minister had come to Bayana not to hold talks with him but to survey the situation there in the wake of the Gujjars' agitation.
On reports of some anti-national elements present in the agitation site on Saturday, Bainsla said "I have no vested interests. I have not used any of them."
Meanwhile, locals complained that telecommunication networks in the area stopped working since last night with the army allegedly activating mobile jammers.
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