Trains cancelled, highway blocked as Gujjars continue stir
December 25th, 2010 - 11:51 pm ICT by IANSBayana (Rajasthan), Dec 25 (IANS) Train and road traffic via Bharatpur district of Rajasthan was disrupted Saturday, the sixth day of the Gujjar agitation for reservation in jobs, officials said.Thousands of train passengers were stranded while trucks lined up on the national highway to Jaipur. Train services between Agra and Jaipur via Bharatpur remained suspended, while many were diverted. Railway officials also said there had been some damage to the tracks on the section.
Meanwhile, tourism industry in Agra in Uttar Pradesh was counting its losses.
The golden triangle (Delhi-Jaipur-Agra route) was badly affected, president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association Rakesh Chauhan said.
Tourism industry leaders expressed deep concern at the frightening prospect of another tourist season gone waste.
“This being the peak season, with thousands of domestic tourists taking advantage of the holidays, the agitation has badly hit the tourism sector,” said Sandeep Arora, former president of the association.
Over 15,000 Gujjars began their agitation Monday, demanding five percent Gujjar reservation in state government jobs in Rajasthan. They are led by Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti convener K.S. Bainsla.
Gujjars of Rajasthan had earlier staged violent protests between 2006 and 2008 in which many lives were lost.
- Gujjar agitation: Agra tourism industry jittery - Dec 21, 2010
- Gujjars continue stir as talks fail - Dec 26, 2010
- Passengers stranded as Gujjar agitation continues - Dec 21, 2010
- Delhi-Mumbai train services hit as Gujjars protest (Lead, Changing dateline) - Dec 21, 2010
- Gujjars' protest on job quota hits Delhi-Mumbai train services (Second Lead) - Dec 21, 2010
- Gujjars continue stir despite government's intervention - Dec 29, 2010
- Gujjars agree to talks but stir reaches Delhi (Second Lead) - Dec 29, 2010
- Ajmer shuts down over Gujjar protest - Dec 27, 2010
- Court rejects 5 percent job quota for Gujjars in Rajasthan - Dec 22, 2010
- Gujjars agree to talks Thursday as stir reaches Delhi (Night Lead) - Dec 29, 2010
- Gujjars start returning home from rail tracks - Jan 06, 2011
- Gujjars agree to talks to end stir (Lead, Changing dateline) - Dec 29, 2010
- Gujjars intensify agitation by refusing to meet Rajasthan Govt's team - Dec 26, 2010
- Gujjar agitation worries Rajasthan tourism industry - Dec 29, 2010
- Gujjars end quota agitation (Lead) - Jan 05, 2011
Tags: agitation, agra hotels, convener, dec 25, domestic tourists, former president, golden triangle, peak season, railway officials, rakesh, restaurants association, road traffic, sixth day, state government jobs, tourism industry leaders, tourism sector, tourist season, train passengers, train services, violent protests