Ashok Gehlot forms committee to hold talks with Gujjars

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot tonight formed a three-member committee of ministers to hold talks with Gujjar protestors, who blocked rail and road routes for the fourth day in the state demanding reservation.

The decision came after the chief minister reviewed the situation in the state.

State home minister Shanti Dhariwal, transport minister BK Sharma and energy minister Jitendra Singh will be the members of the committee, an official spokesperson said.

Dhariwal said that the government has received the copy of the Rajasthan high court judgement on the issue, which was being examined.

Gujjar leader Roop Singh, meanwhile, said that they have not received any official invitation for talks to discuss their demand of 5% reservation with the government.

The agitators continued to squat on the Delhi-Mumbai rail tracks and blocked Karauli-Hindaun road at Gudhala and Jangipura village, and Mahaveerji-Karauli road at Camery village in Karauli district, police sources said.

The Rajasthan high court yesterday stayed the operation of an act granting 5% reservation to Gujjars and directed the state government to undertake a data collection exercise to justify the quota for members of the community.

"What we are demanding is 5% reservation from the state government and it is up to the government to decide on the ways and means. We do not want to comment on the court's judgement because our demands are from the government," Roop Singh said.