The demarcation of 19 new districts in Rajasthan, for which Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot made an announcement on March 17, has led to resentment among people in several regions. After the protests staged at many places, the residents of Sambhar, Phulera and Jobner near Jaipur clashed with the police while opposing merger of their towns in the new Dudu district.
The ruling Congress has found it difficult to meet the demands linked with regional identity and people’s aspirations ahead of this year’s Assembly election. Following Sunday’s violence near Dudu, in which the villagers hurled stones at policemen and the latter resorted to lathicharge, Mr. Gehlot convened a meeting with the Congress MLAs of the region at his official residence here on Monday.
The proposed division of Jaipur into four districts – Jaipur North, Jaipur South, Kotputli-Behror and Dudu – has posed a challenge before the State government. The MLAs and Ministers from Jaipur district told Mr. Gehlot that the people’s sentiments were against the inclusion of their areas in the newly carved out districts.
