Gujjars make a U-turn, suspend stir over quota

JAIPUR: The Gujjars led by Kirori Singh Bainsla took a U-turn on Thursday and suspended their five-day-old sit-in near Hindaun on the quota demand. The state government, on its part, once again invited them for talks on October 5. A day earlier, the Gujjars had declined to let up their protest and the government had reacted by declaring to keep them out of the talks on October 5.
Parliamentary affairs minister Rajendra Rathore, however, was believed to have reached out to the Gujjars again on Thursday, seeking time for the government to show commitment on the quota demand. "Minister Rathore called up our leader Bainsla and assured sincere efforts on the quota demand also. Considering the government request and the ongoing festive season, we have suspended the protest till October 5," said Himmat Singh Gurjar, spokesperson of the Rajasthan Gurjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti that was leading the protest under the leadership of Bainsla.
The government and the Gujjars leaders were scheduled to meet here on October 5 in the presence of legal experts to discuss constitutional ways to get the quota matter cleared by the Rajasthan high court. The reservation Act, 2008, that promises 5% quota in jobs and educational institutes to special backwards classes (SBC), which includes Gujjars, was currently stayed by the high court since it violates the Supreme Court guidelines to keep total reservation in the state up to 50%.
During their two rounds of talks with the government on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Gujjar leaders demanded that the 2008 Act be withdrawn and redrafted to maintain overall reservation within the 50% limit, while keeping the 5% SBC quota intact. Sources said the government declined to withdraw the Act.
Another option-to place the SBC quota under Constitution's Schedule-IX-too was ruled out for the time being since the state assembly's resolution for the same passed in 2008 was said to have lapsed. "The BJP leadership knew that the resolution had lapsed, yet it made a fake promise in its election manifestos of 2013 and 2014 that the SBC quota would be placed under Schedule-IX," the Sangharsh Samiti spokesperson said. He emphasised, "We will watch the government approach on the quota demand on October 5 and accordingly decide our next move when the Gujjar leaders meet again on October 6."