Shouting slogans of “jail bharo”, thousands of Gurjjars across Rajasthan are marching towards their destinations where they will court arrest on Tuesday.With the Justice Chopra Committee, failing to submit its report within three months, Gurjjars announced that more than two lakh members from the community would court arrests on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. The committee was formed by the Raje Government to look into the Gurjjars’s demand for tribal status. “The mood is upbeat and our determination is strong. No one here is ready for talks. We are all eager to get arrested and mark our protest. It does not matter how long we have to stay behind bars, we want reservation,” said Gurjjar leader Roop Singh. Meanwhile, Gurjjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla refused to go to Jaipur for talks with the Rajasthan Government and will court arrest at Rajsamand.Dausa MP Sachin Pilot is expected to court arrest in Jaipur. “We begin this movement in Rajasthan but if we do not get reservation within the next four days, the movement will spread to the rest of the country, as Gujjars from others states will also court arrests,” said Pilot.Members of the community will court arrests at Jaipur, Bharatpur, Kota, Rajsamand, and Ajmer. As many as 259 make-shift jails have been constructed across the state and at certain places, temporary jails have been constructed on a playgrounds. The Chief Minister has directed her ministers and MLAs to monitor the arrangements made by the district and police departments, said sources. Police and administrative officials have been deployed in sensitive areas of the state and Section 144 has been imposed in 18 districts of the state. Gurjjars courting arrests would be treated like prisoners and they will be arrested under Section 151 of the IPC, added sources. “We have been asked to maintain a record of details, thumb impressions and photographs of those arrested. The prisoners will not be allowed to carry any of their belongings and will be given food served in jails. They will be allowed to meet visitors once in seven days,” said a senior administrator.
