Gujjars from 80 villages won’t join stir

SETBACK Baisla had last week given the call to revive protest from May 15 for 5% quota

The move to revive an agitation by Gujjars to press for their demand of five per cent reservation from within OBC quota suffered a setback Thursday with a large section of the community deciding to boycott the stir.

Gujjar community leader Colonel (retd) Kirori Singh Bainsla had last week given the call to stage a massive protest starting from May 15 in Bayana near Bharatpur.

On Thursday, 80 villages under Bayana sub-division gathered at Ranota village where a panchayat decided to boycott Bainsla’s decision.

Hargyan Singh Gurjar, a resident of Piparra village, claimed that Bainsla was politicising the quota issue for personal gains. Hargya Singh said that Bainsla intends to contest Lok Sabha or assembly elections by seeking ticket either from the BJP or Congress. “The community has been waging a fight against the state government for nearly 10 years, The agitations have seen deaths of 72 people. Bainsla is rich and selfish and he will escape but it is the youth of our community who will be booked by the police during the agitation,” Hargyan Singh said.

Sarpanch of gram panchayat Khankhera Dayaram Patel said Bainsla was trying to misguide people. “We are sending our children to schools and colleges to be better citizens but their career will be ruined if police register cases against them during any agitation.”

Bainsla and some other leaders have already got financial benefits from the government. “Gujjars of Bayana block will never allow Bainsla to begin stir here. Locals will boycott and protest any stir on May 15,” Patel said.

Vijay Patel from Mahrawar village said that Gujjar leaders can chose any other place to launch the stir.

Earlier, Bainsla along with other leaders of community held meeting in Adda village on Wednesday to prepare people for agitation.

Spokesperson of Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh samiti Himmat Singh said, “I am not aware about any panchayat decision to boycott the agitation”.

Meanwhile, Bainsla appealed people to remember the sacrifice that 72 people made for community’s right to quota. “Community needs to show its power to the government. All people of community must fight against the government for the quota. It is now or never,” he said.

Committees have been appointed to make people aware and get them ready for the agitation, he said.

The Gujjars have been demanding reservation under “special backward classes” which, according to them, should be within the 50% overall quota approved by the Supreme Court.

Earlier, Himmat Singh had said that Gujjars were getting one per cent reservation under Most Backward Classes (MBC) and the demand is for bifurcation of OBC quota to provide five per cent reservation to Gujjars and other communities.

The Rajasthan Assembly had in October last year passed a bill to raise OBC reservation from 21 to 26 per cent to provide five per cent quota to Gujjar and other castes. However, the high court stayed the bill as it would have increased the reservation to 54 per cent. Later, the Supreme Court also directed the state government not to exceed the 50 per cent reservation limit.

BHARATPUR:

80 VILLAGES UNDER BAYANA SUBDIVISION GATHERED AT RANOTA VILLAGE WHERE A PANCHAYAT DECIDED TO BOYCOTT KIRORI SINGH BAINSLA’S DECISION