JOIN USGujjar community has decided to continue with its mahapanchayat after failing to reach a conclusion in two rounds of talks with the Rajasthan government over five per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutes.
The next meeting has been convened by the state government on October 5, when Gujjar leaders along with Advocate General of Rajasthan will devise a strategy to deal with legal hurdles and fulfil five per cent reservation demand of Gujjars.
“Talks with state government have failed miserably. They assured us of giving five per cent reservation, but they don’t know how to go about it. So they have convened another meeting on October 5 in the presence of legal experts including the Advocate General,” said Himmat Singh, spokesperson of Rajasthan Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti.
Till then, the community will continue with its mahapanchayat at Katara Ajij village in Karauli district, he added.
The meeting with Gujjar leaders was held in Jaipur, where cabinet ministers Rajendra Rathore and Hem Singh Bhadana tried to appease the community leaders.
The Act provisioning five per cent quota for Special Backward Classes was passed in the state Assembly during the previous tenure of the Vasundhara Raje government. But later it was stayed by the Rajasthan High Court because the total reservation shot beyond the 50 per cent limit set by the Supreme Court.
During the meeting, Gujjar leaders reportedly asked the government to either give them five per cent reservation within the limit set by the apex court, or bring a separate reservation bill in the state Assembly.
The state government asked the leaders to first seek legal advice over the issue to resolve their demands soon.