The Rajasthan government is bracing its contingency plans to handle the forthcoming mass arrest agitation of Gurjars from October 2 to reassert their demand for a scheduled tribe status to the community.

The state machinery is all geared up to maintain the law and order situation in the wake of the Gurjars’ proposed agitation. The community has announced that about five lakh people will court arrest across the state on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti to register their protest against Raje government’s failure in sending a recommendation letter to the centre on their reservation demand.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has asked her ministers and MLAs to monitor the arrangements made by district and police machinery in all parts of the state. At least 20 places have been identified to put up temporary prisons to house Gurjar activists. Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria told Deccan Herald that the Gurjars are adamant on being kept in jails so the state government will keep them in make shift jails “as long as they wish to remain there.” The state machinery will see to it that they don’t cause any inconvenience to the general public.

The state government hopes the protesters will be unarmed and not block any highways. Each and every protester would be fingerprinted and photographed before being sent to jail. The protesters will be arrested under relevant rulings if they break any rules, he said. Schools and college buildings will take shape of temporary jails to house them but it has not yet been decided to suspend teaching in these institutions, he added.
As a matter of caution, the state government has also issued an appeal to Gurjar leaders reminding them of the recent directives of Rajasthan High Court asking them to maintain restraint and not indulge in rioting and loss to public property. The Gurjar leaders have also been bound to seek prior permission from concerned district collectors before holding any public meeting or panchayat.

The Gurjar agitation had claimed 26 lives between May 29 and June 4 in police firing and group clashes in the state and a massive loss to public property.