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Uneasy calm in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: An uneasy calm prevailed in Rajasthan the day after Tuesday’s State Cabinet decision to forward to the Centre for further action the Justice Jas Raj Chopra Committee report on the Gujjar community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

The Gujjar groups, visibly unhappy over the State Government’s decision not to forward a letter recommending ST status to the community along with the report, got busy with their future plan. There was no untoward incident reported from any place. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who left Jaipur soon after the Cabinet meeting to attend the National Development Council meeting in Delhi, kept in touch with the developments in the State throughout the day. A few of the Gujjar leaders too were in Delhi calling on senior BJP leaders.

On a day of non-committal postures from the senior leaders from the ruling BJP and the Opposition, Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot said that even after the report of the Justice Chopra Committee the issue of ST status for Gujjars remained. “Those in the Government knew about the outcome of the committee but they did not try to provide any relief to the affected persons,” he charged.

Appealing for restrain from the groups concerned, Mr. Gehlot said the present situation was the result of the seeds of discord sown by Ms. Raje between the communities during her Assembly election campaign. “The BJP and the State Government are continuing with the game of dividing the communities,” he charged.

Kirori Singh Bainsla, senior Gujjar leader who is seemingly at the receiving end from the militant elements in his community, met Ramdas Agarwal, BJP national treasurer and chairman of the four-member high level committee appointed by the Cabinet the other day to look into the details of the special package to be offered to Gujjars. Mr. Agarwal said he advised Col. Bainsla to pursue with the Centre the required changes in the criteria for ST categorisation. “The Chopra Committee has not refused you the ST status,” he told him.

Two rebel BJP MLAs, Attar Singh Bhadana and Prahlad Gunjal, who met journalists here said it was again a “do or die” situation for the Gujjars. “Col. Bainsla has proved too naïve to handle the politicians. We had warned him against chances of Ms. Raje taking him for a ride,” they said accusing the Chief Minister of “betrayal” and Col. Bainsla of “incompetence”.

“He will not lead us anymore. The Gujjar Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti will do it now and if the Colonel wants it, he can follow” they said.

The rebel leaders said the Gujjar community would convene a “maha padaav” (siege) in Jaipur on January 21 if the State Government fails to send a recommendation on ST status to Gujjars by then.

While everyone was expecting a strong reaction from the Gujjar members in the Rajasthan Cabinet, especially from Panchayati Raj Kalu Lal Gujjar who was indirectly associated with the movement, it was a Meena Minister who came out with a surprise that he would press Ms. Raje to accept his resignation.

When Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kirorilal Meena had sent his resignation through his wife Golma Devi on Sunday to the Chief Minister’s office everyone had presumed that it was a pre-emptive attempt to stall the Government from recommending ST status to Gujjars.

However, on Wednesday Dr. Meena told journalists that he would press for acceptance of his resignation as he was “remorseful” about his action and utterances made during the Meena-Gujjar conflict in the wake of the outbreak of the Gujjar agitation. “The Chief Minister had asked me to withdraw my resignation but I now would plead with her to accept it. I want to serve the community and work for rebuilding Rajasthan with the support of RSS, my party and the Government,” he said.

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