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Fresh trouble brewing in Raje backyard

JAIPUR: After the yet unresolved Gujjar reservation conundrum, there is seemingly trouble ahead for Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje from Rajputs with a section of leaders from the community trying to revive the agitation for the status of other backward classes (OBC) for them. The prospect of getting reservation under the proposed economically backward classes (EBCs) is providing no solace to the community, which is on the warpath now.

The group, once part of the now defunct Samajik Nyaya Manch (Social Justice Front) which fought for reservation to the poor among the forward castes during the previous regime in the State, like in the case of Gujjars, claims that Ms. Raje had promised backward status to Rajputs. They have produced a letter, reportedly written by Ms. Raje as the newly appointed president of the State BJP in February 2003, to the Rajput Arakshan Manch (Rajput reservation front) supporting their demand for OBC status.

This past weekend when the State Government narrowly averted a showdown by the Gujjars prevailing upon their leaders to call off a scheduled “Mahapadav” (siege) here on Monday, the Rajputs, under the banner of a newly formed outfit Rajput Karni Sena, assembled at the Bhawani Niketan premises on Jaipur-Sikar road. The rowd responded to the appeal to disperse only after a promise from the Chief Minister’s emissaries to meet their leaders.

The belligerent rallyists, who included a large number of women, mostly targeted their former leaders such as Devi Singh Bhati and Bhagwan Singh Rohalsabsar and Minister and Raje ally, Rajendra Singh Rathore, for their verbal attacks. On Monday a group of women tried to forcibly enter the residence of Ms. Raje after they were made to wait for long hours for a scheduled appointment.

“The meeting with the Chief Minister came as a big disappointment. She was not keen on talking to us. In fact she insulted the Rajput community by making us wait for two hours after giving us time for 11 a.m. on Monday,” said Lokendra Singh Kalvi, a former leader of SJF, now the leading force behind the Rajput Karni Sena, talking to journalists here a day later.

“We showed Ms. Raje her letter which says Rajputs should not be deprived of reservation under OBC just because a few from among them were born to the royal families, and at present, most of the Rajputs are educationally, financially and economically backward,” Mr. Kalvi said quoting from the letter.

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