Angry Gurjjars reached Delhi and blocked traffic in peak hours

June 04: After holding several meetings in Delhi, which included major congregation of ‘Maha Panchayat’, the Gurjjar leaders have decided the future course of action in the wake of continuing stand-off with the Rajasthan government.

After the meeting, they called for a shutdown in Delhi today, which they claimed would be ‘peaceful’.

But nevertheless they failed to keep their promise of peaceful shutdown while bringing their agitation for the ST status from Rajasthan to the national capital. Early in the morning at Delhi-Gurgaon border, it was an all together different story. Mobs clashed with the police, shattered a press van, set fire a DTC bus and blocked the traffic in the peak official hours. Mehrauli-Gurgaon road border was majorly targeted by the protesters, because several Gurjjar villages line the road at the border.

The Gurjjar protest went more violent with the passage of time as they started pelting stones at the running vehicles. Lathicharge seemed to be the last resort for police to control the situation.

The protest hampered the commercial life at Delhi as many office-goers had to turn back from the border.

The Gurjjar community in continuation with their agitation, demanding for the dismissal of the BJP government in Rajasthan and inclusion of their community into the Scheduled Tribe list, yesterday, gathered at Jantar Mantar. Led by Delhi Pradesh Nationalist Congress Party president Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, the procession marched towards the Prime Minister's residence. Shouting slogans and carrying banners, the protestors demanded the imposition of President's rule in Rajasthan.

Most of the highways in the capital were blocked and thousands were stuck in traffic jam as Gurjjars took to the streets during a day-long protest. It was not only Delhi-Gurgoan road which was targeted by the Gujjars, the protesters also blocked Noida-Delhi link road near Mayur Vihar in east Delhi, Khajuri Khas, Azadpur as well as the road to the suburb of Faridabad.

However Delhi Police said there were no reports of any violent activity so far.

"We have not received reports of violence from any corner. Apart from our police force, we have deployed paramilitary forces in sensitive areas," said Dipendra Pathak, the chief spokesperson.

The protest which paralyzed the Rajasthan during the last week is now spilling towards the national capital. The Gurjjars are determined to continue their protests in order to get ST status and it will not be wise on the part of the government to delay there decision. The death toll has already reached to 25, with five people killed and 20 injured in Friday clashes between Gurjjars and Meenas in Rajasthan.