With the Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla recently accepting the offer of Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje to come forward for talks, there seemed a flicker of hope that their disagreement will get sorted out. But now it seems that there is still a long way to go before normalcy returns to the desert state. KS Bainsla, in response to the government offer, sent a three line letter suggesting that the talks could be held in Bayana along with some riders. But this is now not acceptable to the Raje government as Bayana happens to be a hub of the Gujjars’ agitation for ST status.  

 

Moreover the three line letter addressed to the Rajasthan government simply reiterated the Gujjars’ demand for ST status and a recommendation for it thereof. The Gujjar letter also proposed that they will send a delegation of 60 members to meet the representatives of the Rajasthan government. The Rajasthan government, thereafter, seemed to have second thoughts upon knowing the figure of community members they will have to deal with. It was thus suggested to the Gujjars that they send a smaller group.  

 

The Rajasthan government finally backed out after coming to know that the Gujjars had lessened the number of their representatives to 51. ‘How does one deal with a 51-member delegation,’ a bureaucrat involved in the talks queried. ‘We realized it is like trying to talk to a mob, which would not help at all,’ he added. The disagreement between the Gujjar community and the Rajasthan government is therefore likely to continue as the former group is adamant that the talks will happen ‘only’ in Bayana.