Gujjars soften mood on Rahul yatra after meeting ministers

Jaipur: Gujjar leader Vijay Bainsla of Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (GASS), which had threatened to oppose Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) in Rajasthan, on Monday indicated a softening of attitude after the outfit’s leaders held a meeting with ministers in the Ashok Gehlot government in Jaipur.
Education minister BD Kalla on Monday said that all the issues raised by GASS were discussed at the meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours, and that a consensus was reached on most of the outfit’s demands.
The Gujjars’ demands discussed at the meeting included the withdrawal of criminal cases registered against them during the quota agitations, the Devnarayan scholarship scheme, withdrawal of the order enhancing tuition fees for MBBS students, pending cases of MBC recruitment, and the remaining issues from the 2019-20 agreement with the state government. Kalla said officials would now examine the issues and that the next round of talks with GASS leaders would be held at 1pm on Tuesday.
Bainsla described the talks as ‘positive’ and said, “The government has heard all our demands, and it will reply to the demands in Tuesday’s meeting. If our demands are accepted, we will welcome Bharat Jodo Yatra. Or else we will oppose it. It is expected that positive results will emerge from the talks. Wait for tomorrow.”
On the charge that GASS opposing Rahul Gandhi’s yatra aims at tarnishing the image of Sachin Pilot, Bainsla said, “Can the image of such a big leader like him be tarnished so easily? This cannot happen as his image is very big. He is a strong leader. Little things do not tarnish anyone’s image. One’s image is tarnished by their own actions. I do not think Sachin has done any such thing that tarnishes his image. If someone thinks so, it is his personal opinion.”