Click to play videoNew Delhi: Rajasthan government has rejected the demand of Rajasthan Gurjar Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti to hold talks at Bayana. It wants Gurjar leader Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla to send delegation for talks at Jaipur.
Col. Bainsla, however, toughened the stand and said that he won't be going to Jaipur.
"If the talks are to be held, they will be held in Bayana," Col. Bainsla said.
On Saturday morning, Col Bainsla had written a letter to the Rajasthan government stating Gurjars are ready for talks in Bayana in Bharatpur district.
But the letter did not mention who and how many people would represent the community that has been agitating for Scheduled Tribe status.
The deadlock was broken after Col Bainsla accepted a formal government offer for dialogue.
"Talks will take place in Bayana. Gurjar representatives will be decided once we receive a communication from the government about our decision. We have only one demand that the state government should send a recommendation granting ST status to Gurjars," Bainsla was quoted as saying by PTI.
Bainsla also vowed to continue the agitation till the community's demand for ST status was met.
In the fortnight-long agitation 43 people have been killed. The bodies of 20 of those killed are likely to be cremated at Sikandara on Saturday
The government, however, wants Gurjar leaders to come to Jaipur for the dialogue.
Meanwhile, Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP from Faridabad (Haryana) Avtar Singh Bhadana was detained in Jaipur on Saturday morning for giving inflammatory speech in Bayana.
Bhadana along with another Congress leader and Dausa Lok Sabha MP Sachin Pilot was supposed to be in Sikandara, which is in Pilot's constituency, for the cremation of those killed in the agitation.
Gurjars had demanded that the cremation would take place in the presence of Bhadana and Pilot. Bhadana has also been restrained from traveling to Sikandara.
Pilot has, however, been allowed to visit Dausa.
"This is the first time I have been allowed to enter the district. My priorities are to ensure the last rights of the bodies are performed," Pilot said.
The young MP also added, "Peaceful agitation is the only way forward. I don't know what the future holds. I will support any decision, if it's in national interest."
In Delhi, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has already had a meeting with senior officials, including National Security Advisor MK Narayanan on the pros and cons of granting ST or de-notified tribe status to Gurjars.
(With inputs from Ashok Bagariya and Swati Vashishtha)
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
 |
 |
 |
|
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
