Gujjars shoot down Rajasthan's offer

The Gujjar agitation showed no signs of abating with its leader Kirori Singh Bainsla turning down Rajasthan government's proposal for additional quota for the community even as security forces kept a close vigil on the protestors holding bodies of some of those killed in police firing.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recommending four to six per cent reservation for Gujjars in the category of denotified class of tribals/nomadic tribe, Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister R S Rathore said in Jaipur.

Gujjars could also be considered as economically poorer than OBC, he said quoting the letter after a state cabinet meeting.

Dismissing as a "farce" Raje's letter, Bainsla, convenor of Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, said at Karwadi that it "does not talk about granting ST status to Gujjars and our agitation will continue with full force".

With security forces taking steps to cut off supply of essential items to the hundreds of protestors in Karwadi where 10 bodies have kept in metal trunks, the Gujjar agitators have formed a 'tiger force' to check "suspicious elements".

Youths in their twenties have been picked up by the community members to patrol round-the-clock and ensure supply of food and other items.