Nothing less than ST status will do: Bainsla to Raje Govt

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s proposal to grant separate reservation to Gurjjars under the nomadic category has found little support among the Gurjjar leadership. In a joint declaration on Saturday, the Akhil Bharatiya Gujjar Sangarsh Samiti said nothing short of being granted the Scheduled Tribe status would appease the community.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Raje had recommended 4 to 6 per cent separate reservations for Gurjjars, Gadiaya Lohar, Banjara and Rebari castes. Gurjjar leader Col. Kirori Singh Bainsla pointed out that the finding of the Jasraj Chopra Committee clearly stated that the Gurjjars had not benefited from the overall development in the state and warned the BJP of serious political consequences if it did not grant the ST status to his community.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Akhil Bharatiya Gujjar Sangarsh Samiti confirmed that the ‘Gujjar Mahapanchayat and chakka jam’ to be held on January 21 in Jaipur would go ahead as planned. The proposed Panchayat, Bainsla said, would be peaceful and he urged people not to resort to violence or destruction of public property.

The Samiti also announced that Bainsla would go on an indefinite hunger strike from January 20.