Gujjars pin hope on Justice Rohini panel report

JAIPUR: GUJJARS WILL HOLD A MEMORIAL SERVICE ON MAY 23 TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MARTYRS KILLED DURING THE 2008 AGITATION

The Rajasthan government and Gujjar leaders reached an agreement after a six-hour long talk on Saturday, following which a 16-point agreement was signed to resolve the reservation issue. While the Gujjars have called off an agitation planned for May 23, a weekly meeting will be held every Friday to check on the progress of the agreement that will be implemented in a time-bound manner, community leaders said.

The Gujjars will now hold a memorial service on May 23 to pay tribute to the martyrs killed during the 2008 agitation.

Gujjar leader Himmat Singh said the government has agreed in principle to bifurcate the other backward caste (OBC) quota as demanded by the Gujjars and four other communities.

“The difference between the agreement reached yesterday (Saturday) and earlier agreements is that it is more comprehensive and weekly meetings will be held to check the progress,” he said.

State panchayati raj minister Rajendra Rathore in a statement said additional chief secretary of social justice department JC Mohanty has been made the nodal officer and will conduct regular reviews of the progress of the agreement.

The major points of the agreements include the long-standing demand of classification of OBCs.

The agreement states that the Centre has set up the Justice Rohini commission on the classification of the OBCs and the commission is expected to submit its report soon.

The commission has also invited four states, including Rajasthan on June 4.

Gujjar leaders said the decision taken by the Centre on the commission’s recommendations will be studied by the state government and implemented accordingly.

The government has also agreed in-principle to give 1% reservation in government recruitments held from December 9, 2016 to December 21, 2017.

Another point states that a benefit of 1% reservation will be extended in all recruitments in which the government had agreed for 5% reservation.

The government has also assured the Gujjar leaders that all criminal cases that were filed during the agitators, will be withdrawn.

More than 72 people have been killed since 2007 when the Gujjars, who form 7% of the state’s population, launched an agitation demanding 5% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.

In Rajasthan, the total reservation is 49% in three categories—OBC (21%), SC (16%) and ST (12%).

The Rajasthan assembly in October last year, passed a bill to raise OBC reservation from 21% to 26% to provide 5% quota to Gujjars and other castes.

The Rajasthan High Court, however, stayed the bill as it would have increased the reservation to 54%.

Later, the Supreme Court also directed the state government not to exceed the 50% reservation limit.