Gujjar protest turns violent, PM appeals for peace in Rajasthan

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has appealed for peace to the people in Rajasthan even as escalating inter–caste violence threatens to breakdown law and order situation in the state.

"The events of the past few days in parts of Rajasthan have caused a great deal of pain and distress to large numbers of people. Sadly, many lives have been lost, plunging their families into grief," Prime Minister Singh said.

"My heart grieves for all those who have lost their family members and those who have suffered injuries," the prime minister said, adding, "I appeal to all sections of society to desist from actions which may lead to further violence and distress and which will disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens."

The trouble started Tuesday, May 29, when a road blockade announced by the Gujjars, to press for their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status which, under Indian law, would benefit them with government jobs and education opportunities, took a violent turn during which 14 people, including a policeman, were killed when police fired into crowds at Dausa and Bundi areas to stop mobs from blocking the arterial Jaipur–Agra highway.

Since the start of the agitation on May 29, at least 25 people were reported to have been killed in the clashes that have spread to the Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Dholpur, Bharatpur, Alwar and Jhalawar districts of Rajasthan and in neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh.

A "bandh" (strike) has also been called by the Gujjar community in New Delhi on Monday, June 4. In the wake of the bandh call, the Delhi police have made adequate security arrangements in the capital and are keeping a close watch on the developments. The police have also appealed to members of the Gujjar community to maintain peace and not to resort to any traffic blockade or vandalism.

Apprehensive about being left behind by more upwardly mobile other backward classes (OBC) groups like the Meenas and the Jats, the Gujjars started the movement for getting the ST tag and concommitant quota benefits.

The Meena community is the dominant Scheduled Tribe community in Rajasthan.

The Gujjars belong to the northwestern parts of India. Most of them are Hindus except those in Muslim–majority Kashmir state, who follow Islam. They have traditionally been farmers on the plains and shepherds in the hills.

With violence flaring up along roads leading to Jaipur, the central government has rushed 2,000 paramilitary troops to Rajasthan and more have been readied for deployment. Reinforcements also came in from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan government has enforced the National Security Act (NSA) in 14 violence–hit districts, including Ajmer, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Kota and Dausa, with immediate effect in the wake of continuing caste clashes.

The district collectors have been empowered to take immediate action against those indulging in damaging national property including railways, airports, buses, and public property or staging violence, Home Secretary V.S. Singh said.

The National Security Act (NSA) of 1980 permits detention of persons considered security risks. Police may detain suspects under NSA provisions. Under these provisions the authorities may detain a suspect without charge or trial as long as one year on security grounds.

Expressing deep regret, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has announced Rs. 5 lakh as relief for the family of those killed in firing. "The injured would be provided suitable and necessary assistance," she added.

The Rajasthan Government has also announced a solatium of Rs.10 lakh each to the kin of two policemen who were killed in the mob violence.

Official talks between the leaders of the Gujjar community and the state government have remained inconclusive so far.

Meanwhile, the opposition political parties in the state, the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), have condemned the police action in Rajasthan even as Dausa MP Sachin Pilot has demanded the dismissal of the Vasundhara Raje Government. The CPI(M) has also demanded a judicial inquiry into the incidents.

The Congress has charged the state government with having "miserably failed to maintain law and order," leading to the tragic loss of lives. The government should have anticipated the situation and taken effective steps to prevent the loss of lives, it said in a statement.

Senior Congress leader Mohan Prakash said the BJP leadership, both at the Centre and the State, were responsible for the current imbroglio. "The Gujjars never sought the ST status, but the BJP made an election promise," he said.

"The failure of the government to deal with the matter politically has led to the violence and the needless deaths in police firing," the CPI(M) said in statement.

The statement added that the BJP government headed by Vasundhara Raje has become notorious for its heavy–handed police repression on popular movements. "The kisan movement faced brutal repression and six people were killed. The BJP leadership, which hypocritically tried to exploit the Nandigram incident, should take strong action against its state government," it said.

Meanwhile, the tourism industry has seen a sharp decline in tourist arrivals in the state. Hotels and tour operators have claimed that several tourist bookings have been cancelled while many tourists who are here are finding it difficult to leave Jaipur.

The occupancy of the hotels has gone down by over 50 percent in the city.

Jaipur is part of the "golden triangle" circuit comprising New Delhi–Agra–Jaipur, and almost 60 percent of international tourists visiting India make it to these three places.

And with the Jaipur–Agra highway blocked by Gujjar protestors for the last one week, this sector has been hit the most.

The rate of growth of tourism in Rajasthan has been phenomenal in recent years. The annual growth rate for domestic tourists has been seven percent and for international tourists five percent.

According to the industry body, the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM), the total spending by all tourists visiting the state is over Rs.1000 crore ($225 million) per annum.