Gujjars Warn of Stir If CM Doesn't Announce Quotas in a Week

In what could give sleepless nights not just to the Vasundhara Raje led BJP government in Rajasthan but also to the people in days to come, Gujjar leaders have warned the government to find ways to retrieve the SBC five percent quota within a week or face another round of protests.

Rajasthan High Court struck down the five percent quota under Special Backward Classes Act to Gujjars and four other castes Rebaris, Banjaras, Gadiya Lohars and Gadariyas on grounds that it was unconstitutional, last week.

Following the court’s order discontent has been simmering among Gujjar leaders who believe the government has done precious little to put up their case effectively before the court.

The government, meanwhile, has filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court which is expected to come up on Dec 20. Despite government’s assurances to the community that it will also file a review petition before the Rajasthan High Court, Gujjar leaders have warned the government to act within seven days or the Gujjars will resort to their old ways (launch another round of protests).

A meeting between government representatives including Minister for Social Justice Arun Chaturvedi, Minister for Panchayati Raj Rajendra Rathore and GAD Minister Hem Singh Bhadana and Gujjar leaders failed to yield results since Gujjar leaders were not convinced with the measures being taken by the government to salvage the SBC quota.

The delegation of the Akhil Bharatiya Gurjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti led by Gujjar leader Col Bainsla has demanded that the government give them quota within the 50 percent limit through classification of the OBC quota or bring a new law which is under Schedule IX of the constitution thereby keeping it out of judicial purview. ‘We don’t want the government to move the Supreme Court since if the government moves the SC with its current poorly prepared report of the SBC commission then the community will permanently lose out on getting quota under SBC, said Himmat Singh Gujjar, spokesperson of the delegation. The government and the Gujjar leaders are now scheduled to meet on Dec 22.

Holding Raje government responsible for the setback of SBC quota being struck down by the court Gujjars have also announced a sit in with Gujjars from across the country at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on January 15. Akhil Bhartiya Gurjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti president Ramveer Singh Bidhuri said if it were not for the negligence on the part of Raje government which failed to get the SBC Act included in Schedule IX of the Constitution the community would have to resort to protests and sit ins.

The threat of Gujjar quota protest looms over the state and NCR during the upcoming holiday season if the government fails to address the issue through engaging with the Gujjar leaders.