The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Quota for Gujjars

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Saturday, Jun 21, 2008
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Quota for Gujjars

This refers to the editorial “Buying its way out of trouble” (June 20). The Gujjars’ 27-day agitation for Scheduled Tribe status has come to a happy end for now, with the Rajasthan government giving them a five per cent special reservation along with Banjaras, Gadia Luhars and Raikas.

It is the natural wish of every community to climb up the social and economic ladder. In the LPG era, government job still assures employees secure income and pension. It is the state’s duty to monitor the growth and neglect of communities. One man’s food should not become another man’s poison.

Rettavayal S. Krishnaswamy,

Chennai

* * *

It is a great moment for the Gujjar community, which has succeeded in getting a five per cent special reservation. But it is also strange to see its leaders settling for something that is much less than their original demand for the ST status. Belonging to the SCs and the STs is also about the emotional and social hardship attached to the status. The outcome of the Rajasthan government-Gujjar meeting confirms that no such sentiment existed among the Gujjars and the only thing that drove them to agitating was the advantage that accrues from being STs. Had they felt socially marginalised, they would have surely insisted on being recognised thus.

While there are millions of backward people who are too subdued to even raise their voice, let alone benefit from the constitutional provisions, we have a group that sits on the railway track without regard for anyone else and gets its slice of the cake.

V. Siddharth Prahladan,

New Delhi

* * *

Rajasthan has achieved the distinction of becoming the State with the second highest percentage of reservation at 68 (after Tamil Nadu which has a 69 per cent quota), ignoring the Supreme Court verdict of a 50 per cent limit on reservation. The latest move has opened up reservation for the economically weaker forward castes. Interestingly, the new order has covered all the four varnas.

S.R. Badrinarayanan,

Chennai

* * *

Thanks to the Gujjar agitation, the Rajasthan government has announced 14 per cent reservation for the State’s Economically Backward Communities such as Rajputs, Brahmins and Vaishyas, which is welcome. This effectively introduces the economic criterion in quotas which have been dominated by caste identities till now. Vasundhara Raje’s decision to expand the scope of reservation deserves to be lauded.

J.S. Acharya,

Hyderabad

* * *

Rajasthan has managed to come a close second to Tamil Nadu. By its inherent logic, politics that is played by pitting ethnic, caste and economic groups against one another cannot stop multiplying categories. To save its skin in the coming Assembly elections, the BJP-led government has awarded 14 per cent reservation to the ‘upper’ castes too.

The Gujjars seem happy now but their year-long struggle has shown up politicians in Jaipur and New Delhi in a poor light.

A. Vani,

Hyderabad

* * *

The reservation for Gujjars in Rajasthan will open another chapter in the history of quotas with other States following suit. What politicians should learn from this episode is that they cannot hoodwink the people.

The demand for reservation is made only when some sections feel their development is not on a par with the progress of others. Governments should focus on development issues and ensure equitable distribution of resources so that the situation does not reach a boiling point as it did in Rajasthan. The people should strive for overall development, not the uplift of their communities alone.

S. Sundaresh,

Bangalore

* * *

Once again, the politics of reservation has won. Taking advantage of our political leadership’s mindset, communities continue to bully the government by holding normal life to ransom.

Ved K. Guliani,

Bangalore

* * *

The Gujjar agitation has taught our people how to achieve their demands.

H.M. Jamrose,

Hyderabad

* * *

Given the context and the manner in which the Rajasthan Government’s decision was taken, Abraham Lincoln’s original comment — “you may fool all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all the time” — seems more pertinent.

Shantanu Sinha,

New Delhi

* * *

The Gujjars’ action of holding the State to ransom for nearly a month should open the eyes of our politicians to the dangers of making promises that are beyond their capacity to fulfil.

R.K. Kutty,

Bhopal

* * *

The message that is loud and clear is: if you want a free helicopter ride plus your photo on the front page of national newspapers, sit tight on the main railway track and hold the nation to ransom.

R.G. Khan,

Aligarh

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