Rail traffic suffers as Gujjar anger boils over

With Railways having already diverted 28 trains from Tuesday and cancelled a few short distance trains on Bharatpur section, the ministry is trying hard to maintain traffic on this track which connects western India to central and north India. 

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsha Samiti chief Kirori Singh Bainsla reacted sharply on the High Court verdict against the five per cent reservation given by the state government, and announced a further rail and road blockade. He has given a call to stop milk supply to the national capital. 

The diverted trains which have adopted alternative routes include important trains like Mumbai Central-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, Mumbai Central-Hazrat Nizamuddin August kranti Rajdhani Express, Pune-Hazrat Nizamuddin Duranto Express, Bandra Terminus-Amritsar Pashchim Express and Mumbai Central-Amritsar Golden Temple Mail.

The number of Gujjars blocking rail track since Monday in Pilupura village near Bayana in Bharatpur district, 173km from Jaipur is swelling and other rail routes are also facing the threat of blockade.  

The Bandra Terminus-Gorakhpur Avadh Express & the Bandra Terminus-Dehradun Express trains have been diverted to run via Sawai Madhopur-Jaipur-Rewari stations.

No special quota, rules HC

A Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday held that Gujjars could not be given special reservation in government jobs, reports PTI from Jaipur. Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Mahesh Bhagwati held that Gujjars cannot be given special reservation.