Gehlot for upper caste quota

Under pressure from reservation-seeking agitationists, the Rajasthan Cabinet today passed a resolution recommending 14 per cent economic reservation for upper castes. In a move to appease the growing number of reservation-seekers in the state, the Ashok Gehlot government has sent a recommendation to the Centre, suggesting 14 pc reservation for upper castes, including Brahmins, Rajputs and Vaishyas. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting today.

To ensure that their largesse does not offend their other political votebanks, the Cabinet also added a rider that the reservation should not come at the cost of the sections already covered. On their part, the state BJP also made a similar statement saying a minimum 10 pc reservation should be given to the upper castes.

Today’s decision comes in the wake of intense agitations by all communities and recent disruptions by agitating reservation-seekers of both Gehlot’s and Vasundhara Raje’s public meetings. The Brahmins, Rajputs, Vaishyas and Kayasthas are demanding economic reservation. The Gujjars want to be shifted from the Scheduled Caste category to the Scheduled Tribe category. And Gehlot’s Mali community, which enjoys OBC status, does not want to share its privileges with Jats.