Bayana/Jaipur, June 8
In the first glimmer of hope for an end to the 16-day-old agitation, Rajasthan government and the Gujjar leadership today agreed to hold preliminary talks in the community stronghold of Bayana in Bharatpur district tomorrow.

According to sources, talks are expected to be held between the state government officials and Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti spearheaded by 70-year-old Kirori Singh Bainsla.

In a bid to break the deadlock and bring Bainsla, a retired Colonel, to the negotiating table, the state authorities earlier in the day offered to hold preliminary parleys with the Gujjar leadership in Bayana, provided the main talks took place in Jaipur.

Bainsla, who is camping in violence-hit Karwadi-Pilupura area, around five kilometres from Bayana, said if the preliminary talks were “fruitful” and held in a “conducive” atmosphere, he would to go to Jaipur for further parleys.

Sources said S.N. Thanvi, Rajasthan government’s chief negotiator, was expected to go to Jaipur to seek instructions from the top state political leadership before proceeding for the first round.

Meanwhile, the Samiti, agitating for ST status, submitted a list of names of 45 persons, who will be representing the community at the parleys, to the authorities.

However, the government asked Bainsla to limit the list to a dozen people and not to include the names of Gujjar leaders from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi, since the matter related to Rajasthan.

Thanvi told reporters earlier in Bayana that “we are in touch with Bainsla on mobile phone. We are willing to have preliminary talks at Bayana on the condition that the main talks will be held in Jaipur only.” — PTI