Gurjar protesters disrupt train services after mahapanchayat
Jaipur/Alwar: Disgruntled elements who participated in the Gurjar mahapanchayat, called by Gurjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti convenor Vijay Bainsla in Bharatpur's Peelupura Sunday, damaged railway tracks and halted the Kota-Mathura passenger train on the busy Delhi-Mumbai line.
The two-hour disruption, which had a cascading effect on the movement of over 12 trains scheduled on the line, was unleashed by an unruly group of youths after Bainsla called off the mahapanchayat following the Rajasthan govt's acceptance of the community's charter of demands, including one to include the 5% MBC reservation in the 9th Schedule.
"We are happy with the govt's statement today. For the first time, the state govt has decided to approve the inclusion of the 5% MBC quota in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution in the state cabinet.
Once it is approved in the state cabinet, the govt will send it to the Centre for further processing. We thank the chief minister for this," Bainsla told TOI.
Angry Gurjar youths, who demanded immediate action from the govt, however, blocked the busy Delhi-Mumbai railway line for over two hours, from 4:30 pm, damaging about one km of the tracks about 150 meters away from the site of the mahapanchayat.
As a result of the protests, Avadh Express that runs from Bandra Terminus to Barauni Junction in Bihar was halted at Fateh Singhpura station, while Saugor-Nizamuddin train was stopped at Sawai Madhopur station.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
As protests started to spread, IG Bharatpur zone, district collector, and SP arrived at the scene and persuaded the protesters to vacate the area, managing to clear the track by 6:30 pm. "The halted train departed after a team of DRM Kota repaired the tracks. All the protesters dispersed. I spoke to a few remaining protesters at the spot who have also been dispersed," said Rahul Prakash, IG Bharatpur Range. Prakash said rail movement was restored on the Delhi-Mumbai route via Karwadi-Pillu Ka Pura route on the Bayana section.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Kota division of West Central Railways (WCR), Sourabh Jain, said, "We were informed at 4:33 pm on Sunday that some people moved on to sit on the railway track between Fateh Singh Pura and Dumariya Stations near Pillu Ka Pura. The train no. 54794 Mathura-Sawaimadhopur fast passenger train was halted in the section." "In coordination with State Police and Railways, the people on the track were removed at 6:46 pm through convincing and pursual.
The 54794 passenger train has departed from the halt, and other trains have also resumed on track. In the entire episode, around 10-12 trains suffered delays," he added.
Sunday's mahapanchayat was called despite the Rajasthan govt, through Home Minister Jawahar Singh Bedam, conveying that it would address the demands raised by the community, including full benefits of 5% reservation in govt jobs and education for most backward classes (MBCs).
Bainsla read out the govt draft to the community members, after which it was unanimously agreed to call off the mahapanchayat. However, several community members opposed the govt draft and decided to block the railway tracks. Following the protest, Bainsla and other committee members left the venue, after which angry youths decided to move their protests to the rail tracks.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Concerning precedent continues': Kharge urges PM Modi to begin process to elect Lok Sabha deputy speaker
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urgently initiate the process of electing a deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha, underlining the ongoing delay in the matter despite constitutional provisions for it. In a letter to PM Modi, Kharge pointed out that each Lok Sabha, from the first to the sixteenth, had seen the appointment of a deputy speaker in both Houses of Parliament, adding that it had also been a 'well-established convention' to appoint the person from among the members of the principal Opposition party. 'However, for the first time in independent India's history, this position has remained vacant for two consecutive Lok Sabha terms. No Deputy Speaker was elected during the Seventeenth Lok Sabha and this concerning precedent continues in the ongoing Eighteenth Lok Sabha,' Kharge pointed out. Terming it a highly concerning matter, Kharge underlined that Article 93 of the Constitution mandates the election of both the speaker and the deputy speaker of the House of the people. Constitutionally, he added, the deputy speaker is the second-highest presiding officer of the House after the speaker, with Article 93 of the Constitution providing for an appointment to the post. My letter to PM Shri @narendramodi on the urgency to initiate the process of electing a Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha without any further delay. From the First to the Sixteenth Lok Sabha, every House has had a Deputy Speaker. By and large, it has been a well-established… — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 10, 2025 'The House of the People shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the House to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker thereof and, so often as the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker becomes vacant, the House shall choose another member to be Speaker or Deputy Speaker, as the case may be,' Kharge said, quoting the provisions under the section. With regard to the election of the deputy speaker, he added, Article 93 stipulates that the House shall choose one 'as soon as may be'. He added that traditionally, the deputy speaker has been elected in the second or third session of a newly constituted Lok Sabha. 'The procedure for this election mirrors that of the Speaker, with the only distinction being that the date for the Deputy Speaker's election is fixed by the Speaker, as per Rule 8(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha,' Kharge said. A vacancy on the post did 'not augur well for India's democratic polity and is also in violation of well laid out provisions of the Constitution', Kharge added, urging PM Modi to initiate the process without any further delay, keeping with the traditions of the House and the democratic ethos of Parliament. Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express. Over the last 15 years, he has covered bureaucracy & politics, crime, traffic & intelligence, the Election Commission of India & Urban Development among other beats. He is an English (Literature) graduate from Zakir Husain Delhi College, DU & specialised in Print at the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. He tweets @jatinpaul ... Read More
Hans India
23 minutes ago
- Hans India
Post vacant for two LS terms: Kharge writes to PM Modi, seeks Dy Speaker election
New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to initiate the election process for the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, noting that the post has remained vacant for two consecutive terms -- a first in Independent India's parliamentary history. Sharing his letter on X, Kharge highlighted that Article 93 of the Constitution mandates the election of both a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha. He said the failure to fill the post during the 17th Lok Sabha and its continued vacancy in the 18th term "does not augur well for India's democratic polity" and also violates constitutional principles and undermines democratic tradition. "From the First to the Sixteenth Lok Sabha, every House has had a Deputy Speaker. By and large, it has been a well-established convention to appoint the Deputy Speaker from among the members of the principal opposition party," Kharge wrote, calling the current situation a "concerning precedent". In his letter, Kharge stressed: "The Deputy Speaker is the second-highest presiding officer of the House. This position remaining vacant weakens the democratic structure and is also against the well-laid-out provisions of the Constitution." He quoted Article 93, which states, "The House of the People shall, as soon as may be, choose two members to be Speaker and Deputy Speaker... and so often as the office becomes vacant, the House shall choose another member." Kharge also referred to Rule 8(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, which gives the Speaker the power to fix the date for the Deputy Speaker's election. The last person to hold the Deputy Speaker post was M. Thambi Durai of the AIADMK, who served during the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019). Calling on the Prime Minister to act without further delay, Kharge urged: "In view of the foregoing and in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the House and the democratic ethos of our Parliament, I request you to initiate the process of electing a Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha." The Deputy Speaker plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth conduct of business in the absence of the Speaker, with equal authority to manage debates, maintain order, and decide on procedural matters.
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomes Dawoodi Bohra Sultan, shares Eid Al Adha greetings and hopes for global peace
Source: X On Monday, UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Sultan Mufaddal Saifuddin, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, at Qasr Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi. In view of the UAE's strong commitment to interfaith dialogue and multicultural relations, this meeting exemplified the UAE's continued efforts to foster religious harmony, human dignity and coexistence on an international stage. UAE continues to declare itself a beacon of faith diplomacy, welcoming international interfaith gatherings such as the Abrahamic Family House and the World Tolerance Summit. This meeting, held, includes international faith leaders such as Sultan Saifuddin, further fueling this narrative. The face of the meeting may have appeared as a simple exchange of pleasantries, bearing greater geopolitical and diplomatic implications, but it appeared to the better diplomatic implications. UAE President welcomes Dawoodi Bohra community Sultan shares Eid AI Adha greetings The Sultan of Dawoodi Bohra community welcomed by UAE President highlights the significance of the meeting which was held during one of Islam's most sacred events that contributed a religious and symbolic dimension to the Eid Al Adha. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Posted by Dawoodi Bohras on X (Formerly Twitter) leaders from the two sides exchanged Eid wishes, shared common aspirations for international peace, prosperity, and human welfare during religious celebrations. This is an extension of the overall soft power policy that the UAE employs, including religious diplomacy to engender international goodwill. During the meeting, Sultan Saifuddin commended Sheikh Mohamed's leadership, more so his efforts in spearheading philanthropic causes and promoting universal values of tolerance, compassion, and dialogue. He commended the UAE model of living together where communities of different faiths, including the Dawoodi Bohras, coexist and thrive together in peace. Source: X Who are the Dawoodi Bohras The Dawoodi Bohras are a Shi'a Muslim community known for their strong emphasis on education, social responsibility, entrepreneurship, and cleanliness. With global headquarters in India, the community has a significant presence in the UAE and contributes actively to the country's economic and civic life. Their topmost leadership, Sultan Mufaddal Saifuddin, not only commands respect as a religious leader but also as a champion of sustainable urban development, food security, and social well-being in accordance with UAE's values. UAE leaders join in common support for religious coexistence The presence of senior Emirati leaders at the meeting, according to the Gulf News report, indicated the importance the UAE places on such interfaith and intercultural interactions. Those present at the meeting included: Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Their attendance reflects an agreement among the UAE leadership to adopt religious tolerance and open debate. UAE cements its place as a beacon of peaceful coexistence The Al Shati Palace summit reiterates the UAE's strategic location as a global hub for tolerance where over 200 nationalities and multiple religious communities coexist in harmony. This model is especially relevant in a world beset by rising polarization, extremism, and cultural misconceptions. Sultan Saifuddin's visit and the respectful reception he was given are evidence of religious institutions' respect for state leadership, as they show how such understanding can bring about social stability and international collaboration.
