Mahapadav Continues as Talks Fail, Pandemonium in Rajasthan Assembly

Gujjar leaders on Tuesday decided to continue with their ongoing ‘Mahapadav’ (grand sit-in) after talks between community elders and the Rajasthan state government failed to break the deadlock over the scheduled caste status sought by the Gujjars.

The two parties have, however, decided to meet at an unannounced date, to iron out “differences” over the issue, say agencies citing officials in the Congress ruled state.

“Talks remained inconclusive. We have decided to continue Mahapadav. We will meet again on the reservation issue,” Col. Bainsla, who led the community delegation for the talks, was quoted as saying by agencies.

The Gujjars are pressing for an early gubernatorial nod to a reservation bill passed by the previous government in the state.

Though, the government is in an, in principle, agreement of five per cent reservation for government jobs, it maintains that 14 per cent reservation would require amendments to the constitution by the parliament.

Earlier in the day, three BJP MLAs — Gyan Dev Ahuja, Hem Singh Bhadna and Bhawani Singh Rajawat — were suspended from the Rajasthan Assembly for a year.

The trio was suspended after a motion to the affect was accepted by voice vote amid an ongoing BJP sit-in on the floor of the House.

In a sharp reaction to the suspension, the BJP announced plans to boycott all Assembly committees, of which it is a part, and said the expulsions were “unconstitutional and deliberate.”