Peace with Gujjar
The Gujjars finally called off their 27 day-long violent agitation, disrupting road and train communication, inflicting untold hardship to common men and loss of 39 lives, after extracting several benefits for the community excepting their major demand of ST status to the community. The Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje announced 5 per cent reservation for Gujjars along with Banjara, Gadia, Luhars and Raikas as special category in government jobs and educational institutions, Panchayats and local self bodies. She has agreed to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each of the deceased family killed during the agitation, provide job to one member of the deceased family and also compensation ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh to the injured depending on the severity of the injury. She has also agreed to follow up with the Union Government for granting ST status to the Gujjars. Col (rtd) KS Bainsla, leader of the Gujjars appeared satisfied with the generous offer of the Rajasthan Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, to satisfy the higher castes also announced 14 per cent reservation for Economically Backward Communities such as Brahmins, Vaishyas and Kayasthas including Bohra Muslims, setting a precedence, raising the total reservation to 68 per cent in violation of Supreme Court’s ruling that reservation should not exceed 49 per cent.From the beginning the Rajasthan Government’s dealing with the Gujjar agitation shows lack of firmness. It allowed the situation to drift out of control resulting in complete break down of law and order allowing the agitators to damage national high ways, railway lines, burn police stations and public property. Now the Rajasthan government has agreed to withdraw cases against those involved in such mayhem. The State government appeared spineless and allowed the agitators to dictate terms. The Chief Minister’s announcement of 14 per cent reservation for high classes would open similar demands in other States. She has bought peace temporarily to face the coming Assembly elections, but her reservation policy of 68 per cent would be subject to judicial scrutiny and likely to be declared unconstitutional, which would result in fresh bout of agitation. Already, the Meena Community is dissatisfied with Vasundhara Raje’s dealing with the Gujjars. They are not likely to offer support to the Vasundgara Raje’s scheme of 68 per cent reservation. This is a classic case of a State caught in its own quagmire abandoning its constitutional role in the compulsions of vote bank politics. Source: assamtribune editorial 21.06.08
