The Gujjar faction led by former MLA Ramveer Singh Bidhuri has back tracked from its earlier call to organise a state-wide strike on June 13 to press for their demand of five per cent reservation for the community. The breakaway group has now given a call to protest at district level on June 16.
On the other hand, Rajasthan Gujjar Yuva Mahasbha said that a handful of outsiders were inciting the Gujjars while the BJP is backing them.
The breakaway group also formed Gujjar Arkshan Samiti headed by Mr Bidhuri.
Talking to media persons, Mr Bidhuri and BJP MLA Hem Singh Bhadana said Gujjar leader K.S. Bainsla betrayed the community. Besides Mr Bhadana, former BJP ministers Nathu Singh and Kalu Lal Gujjar were also made members of the samiti. Barring Mr Bidhuri, most of the samiti leaders come from the saffron party.
Mr Bidhuri said the community had rejected the peace accord signed by Mr Bainsla with chief minister Ashok Gehlot.
“Ours will be a peaceful agitation. If the government fails to address our cause, it may go in any direction,” Mr Bidhuri warned. The same group had organised a Mahapanchayat at Matrakundia under Chittorgarh district only last month, but got little support. Gujjar Yuva Mahasabha president Vikram Gujjar said only few outsiders were trying to make their own political base in Rajasthan.
“Why are they not serving Gujjars in their own states like Haryana and Uttar Pardesh?” he asks. He said the state government had given what it could give and the Gujjars endorsed the peace pact.
The Gujjar agitation brought leaders from the neighbouring states to try their luck in Lok Sabha elections. One of them, Rajendra Bidhuri got elected from Begu seat under Chittorgarh district to the Assembly.
Another Gujjar leader from Harayana, S.S. Jonpuria, first tried to get a Congress ticket for Lok Sabha.