The Maharashtra Act Number VIII of 2003 provides for 13 per cent quota for SCs, seven per cent for STs, three per cent for Denotified Tribes and eight per cent for Nomadic Tribes (under three different heads) in addition to two per cent quota for Special Backward Category and 19 per cent for OBCs taking the total reservation up to 52 per cent.

The Rajasthan government had asked the Centre to add four castes, including the Gurjjars, in the list of ‘de-notified tribes’ and provide reservation of four to six per cent for them.

Bainsla today asked the protestors at the Sikandra highway to cremate 20 bodies lying on ice slabs in wooden trunks since May 24.

The funeral is expected to take place tomorrow. As per the demands of the agitators, Dausa MP Sachin Pilot is expected to be present at the funeral.

Representatives of the Gurjjar Samaj included Delhi MLA Rambir Singh Bidhuri (NCP), former Haryana Congress committee head JP Nagar, businessman BR Lohia from Dubai and Ram Saral Gujjar from Agra.

Even though the Mahapanchayat is yet to decide on the 11-member committee that is to accompany Bainsla for peace talks, Bainsla said that peace talks will happen only if there is a letter recommending reservation for Gurjjars. “We just need the Vasundhara Raje governmet to give us the letter.

We will take this to the Congress at the Centre once the state government gives its approval,” said Bidhuri.

The Army and the RAF have managed to reclaim the railway tracks in Dausa held under siege by women protestors in Bandikuian. Nearly 47 people have been arrested. An Army company is currently guarding the tracks blocked since May 24.