Ahmedabad, March 27: Talks between the Rajasthan Govt and the agitating Gujjar leaders began at Jaipur on Friday even as the sit in Mahapadaav at Gazipur in Dausa district over the demand of most backward class special quota, continued for the fourth day.
An eleven member delegation of Gujjars sent by Action Committee convenor Colonel Kirodi Singh Bainsla reached Jaipur in the afternoon.
Later, the delegates held opening round dialogue with Ministers Jitendra Singh and Brijkishore Sharma.
A decision to this effect was taken at a Mahapanchayat held at Gazipur in Dausa district after the Gujjars revived their agitation in support of their demand for job quotas.
Five per cent job reservation is being demanded by Gujjars for them and four other communities.
Among the five communities, Gujjars are in large numbers.
“If there comes any viable solution after the meeting, I will go to Jaipur to hold meeting with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot,” Col Bainsla told the news agency over the phone.
“Our sit-in is continued at Gazipur, and we at the moment have postponed plan to march to Jaipur and will take decision later accordingly,” he added.
The government meanwhile has made elaborate security arrangements and deployed forces around the city to restrict entry of Gujjars in case they march towards the state capital.
“Extra forces including Border Security Force, Border Home Guard, Rasthan Armed Constabulary are standing guard in the city to restrict the entry of Gujjars,” IG-Jaipur Range IBL Soni told the news agency.
Gujjars led by Bainsla had on Tuesday held a sit-in in Gazipur.
Bainsla had said that lakhs of people from his community would march towards Jaipur if their demand of reservation was not fulfilled.
Rajasthan High Court had in October last year stayed the quota in jobs and educational institution in the state for the Gujjars and people of economically backward classes.
The Court on Thursday asked the state government what action it had taken for security ahead of the proposed agitation and march to Jaipur by the Gurjar community.
Chief Justice Jagdish Bhalla and Justice MN Bhandari wanted to know what security arrangements had been made to protect public property from damage during the agitation.
—Agencies