New Delhi: The demand by the Gurjar community in Rajasthan to be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST) is likely to take a heavy toll on the Vasundhara Raje government.
Five BJP MLA's including the Panchayati Raj Minister Kalu Lal Gurjar have offered to resign.
Earlier on Wednesday, talks between Raje's emissary Vishvendra Singh, who is also the Member of Parliament from Bharatpur, and Gurjar leaders failed.
The protesters have said they will talk only with the Chief Minister. The state government has now formed a committee of four ministers for further talks with the protestors.
The government has apparently sought two weeks' time to send recommendations to the Centre for inclusion of Gurjars in the Scheduled Tribe category.
There was little sign of the violence stopping even on the second day after 14 people were killed in Gurjar-police clash.
All along the Jaipur-Agra National Highway, hundreds of Gurjar youth blocked traffic and pelted stones at private vehicles.
All bus services from Delhi to Jaipur have been suspended and tourists have bee advised to stay put. Earlier in the day, agitating protestors set two police post in Dausa on fire and even dug up roads in some areas
At least 100 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in and around Dausa and the Army is also keeping a tight vigil.
State Home Minister G C Kataria said the situation in Bundi district was normal with protestors agreeing to cremate the bodies of those killed in Tuesday's clashes and police firing but the situation on the Jaipur-Agra National Highway continued to be tense.
Gurjars are expected to hold a Maha Panchayat in Bharatpur to discuss the issue and have called for a bandh in Bhilwara against police firing in Dausa.
The demand of the Gurjars to be included in the ST category has brought them into conflict with the Meenas, another Scheduled Tribe.
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