Gurjars lionize Bainsla with statue inside tiger territory

Jaipur: Defying objections from the district administration and the forest department, the Gujjar community Saturday unveiled statues of its late leader Col Kirori Singh Bainsla and two others at Kushalipura village in Sawai Madhopur, in land falling within the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.

The statues were put up at a site the community has memorialised over the Gujjar quota agitation. Next to Bainsla’s statue were erected those of two locals, Radheshyam and Kanhaiya Lal, who died during the agitation.

Forest authorities maintained that the location falls within notified CTH land, where construction and installation of permanent structures are not permitted under existing regulations. Despite repeated objections from the administration, the statues were unveiled according to plan in a programme led by Col Bainsla’s son Vijay Bainsla.

Vijay Bainsla defended the move, saying the platform on which the statues have been erected was constructed by the govt. He also alleged that local BJP MLA Jitendra Gothwal had assured the community that the installation would be facilitated, but failed to act on the promise.

“The community waited patiently and repeatedly approached the authorities. When there was no progress, people decided to install the statues themselves,” he said.

A senior forest official said the administration had been informed about the proposed installation and security arrangements were made in advance. Yet, the installation could not be stopped.

“The matter was under discussion for nearly two months. It was made clear that the site falls within the CTH. Police deployment was made accordingly but the installation ultimately went ahead,” the official said.

The conflict of opinions in the matter triggered tension as police and community members came face to face Friday. Anticipating large crowds, authorities deployed additional police personnel from Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dausa districts to maintain law and order.

The statues were transported to the site late Friday night, following which community members began assembling in large numbers. By Saturday morning, the venue had drawn a sizeable crowd, with celebrations and cultural performances preceding the unveiling ceremony.

Following the unveiling, Bainsla’s family and community members performed havan and other religious rituals at the site.

The site holds symbolic significance for the Gujjar community as it is associated with the quota movement, during which several of its members lost their lives. For years, the community sought the development of a memorial at the location, while authorities opposed the proposal, citing environmental restrictions applicable to the protected tiger habitat.