Plan to install Bainsla’s statue on forest land triggers Gurjar-Govt Standoff

Jaipur: The Gurjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti’s plan to install a statue of late Gurjar leader Col Kirori Singh Bainsla at Kaushalipura Darra in Sawai Madhopur’s Khandar tehsil has triggered a standoff with the Rajasthan govt, with the administration refusing permission for construction on forest land.

More than 5,000 Gurjar community members gathered at the site Friday ahead of the proposed installation scheduled for Saturday. The event coincides with Shaheed Diwas, observed annually by the community to honour those killed during the 2007-08 Gurjar reservation agitation. Kaushalipura Darra was among the key flashpoints of the movement, where clashes erupted between protesters and security forces.

District authorities maintained that the land falls under the forest department, and no permanent structure can be erected without statutory approvals. Security deployment in the area has also been intensified to avoid any law-and-order situation.

“For the last 20 years, we have maintained a memorial platform here to honour two community members who were killed in police firing during the 2007 agitation. Every year, we gather here to pay floral tributes,” said Vijay Bainsla, president of the Samiti and son of the late Gurjar leader.

Samiti leaders alleged that BJP MLA Jitendra Gothwal had promised during the Assembly elections that statues of Col Bainsla and the martyrs would be installed if the BJP formed the govt. They claimed discussions were held over the past two months with Gothwal, district officials and Forest minister Sanjay Sharma regarding the installation.

Responding to objections over the forest land, Vijay Bainsla said, “When the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was built on the basis of faith, why can’t statues of Col Bainsla and the two martyrs be installed here? They are revered by the community and are symbols of our struggle.”

Some Samiti members also warned they would go ahead with the installation despite objections. “We are ready to face bullets again if the govt tries to stop us,” a participant said.

Sources said BJP state president Madan Rathore and several senior leaders attempted to persuade the Samiti to defer the programme, but no consensus was reached till Friday evening.