NEW DELHI, 30 May 2008 — Normal life in Delhi was thrown out of gear yesterday as Gujjar protesters blocked main roads leading to the capital. With Gujjars shouting slogans, throwing stones, burning tires and simply squatting on major roads, vehicular movement remained affected for several hours.
The areas worst affected by the Gujjars demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status were Meharauli, Aya Nagar, Mayur Vihar, Anand Vihar, Wazirabad, Surya Nagar, Khajuri Khas and Sarai Kale Khan. Traffic virtually came to a halt on Delhi-Noida Expressway, Mathura Road connecting Faridabad and Delhi and Mehrauil-Gurgaon Road. At least 15 trains were canceled.
Led by their local leader, Anantram Tawar, activists belonging to Ajit Singh-led Indian National Lok Dal blocked the Delhi-Jaipur highway at Narshingpur Chowk near Gurgaon. The demonstrators carrying sticks and posters shouted slogans against the Rajasthan government and also burned effigies of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje.
Despite the National Capital Region (NCR) having been placed on high alert and deployment of around 45,000 police, the agitation called by All India Gujjar Mahasabha severely affected regular commuters. There were also reports of stray incidents of violence with demonstrators attacking vehicles, snatching car keys and throwing stones at police. Reporting live from several parts of the city, local television channels advised people in the affected areas to stay home.
Hinting at a prolonged agitation, Gujjar leader Joginder Singh Awana said: “They fired at Gujjars in Rajasthan. But it hurts Gujjars all over the country. We all stand united on the issue.”
At least37 Gujjars were killed in the police firing last week in Rajasthan. Demanding action against Raje, a protester said: “We want a case registered against the Rajasthan chief minister. She is a murderer as 40 of our people were shot and killed on her orders.”
Another man participating in the demonstrations slammed social activists for keeping silent on the deaths of Gujjars. “When a terrorist is killed in an encounter, human rights groups come out in his support. How come no one has condemned the killing of dozens of unarmed Gujjars?” the man asked.
Meanwhile, in Karwadi and Bayana areas of Rajasthan, which saw protests for the seventh consecutive day, an Indian Air Force helicopter dropped pamphlets appealing to the people to refrain from violence and take up their demand for ST status with the federal government. The activists reacted by burning these pamphlets.
With the presence of ethnic Gujjars in sizable numbers in most north Indian states, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati voiced apprehension that it may spread to other parts of the country. Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, she said: “The central and state governments should discuss the matter and adopt a middle path to find a solution to demands of Gujjars.”
The Gujjars have been given ST status in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, while in western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, they are classified as Other Backward Class (OBC).
