The Hindu : National : BJP broke promise: Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 31, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

BJP broke promise: Congress

New Delhi Bureau

Rajasthan government mishandled Gujjar agitation, says Prakash Karat

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday charged the Rajasthan government with “hypocrisy” and “breach of promise” for not making a recommendation to the Centre on granting Scheduled Tribe status to Gujjars.

“Instead of recommending ST reservation for Gujjars — as the BJP promised in its election manifesto — the State government merely forwarded to the Centre the report of a commission it set up after the 2007 agitation,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said.

ST reservation was a State-specific exercise and not a Central issue. The State government should have made a recommendation on the basis of anthropology, statistics, origin, geography and such related criteria to the Registrar-General of India (RGI).

The RGI would have looked into the recommendation and while accepting or rejecting would have sent it to the Union government. The Ministry concerned then would have looked into it and referred it to the Cabinet. After the Cabinet took a decision, the issue would have been forwarded to the State for notification, he said.

“In this case, the Rajasthan Chief Minister circumvents the entire procedure to pull wool over people’s eyes. She sets up a commission, which gives the report that the Centre should re-consider the criterion on which ST status can be given to Gujjars.”

Mr. Singhvi charged the State government with “shuttling” the issue to escape responsibility. He, however, skirted a question on the Congress’ stand on the issue. “There is no question of the Congress view on a technical issue.”

‘Complicated issue’

Charging the BJP government in Rajasthan with mishandling the Gujjar agitation, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Addressing a press conference here after the central committee meeting, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said that it was “shocking” that 41 people died in the police firing in the first two days of the ongoing agitation.

The issue was a “complicated one” and there were no easy solutions, Mr. Karat said.

“The Rajasthan government should have handled it seriously and focussed on serious negotiations and political settlement. But you have a Chief Minister in Rajasthan who thinks it is her divine right to rule.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News Update

Stories in this Section