decoding the stir
Who are the Gujjars?
A pastoral community, who, as per the 1931 caste census, constitute about 5% of Rajasthan’s population. Traditionally, they have been BJP supporters
What is their demand?
They are demanding 5% reservation under special backward classes (SBC) category, a sub-category under OBC. The Gujjars are getting OBC reservation since 1994. They started demanding SBC reservation after the demand for giving them ST status was rejected by a government panel.
Did they get 5% SBC quota earlier?
Yes, three attempts have been made.
The Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in 2008 brought a bill for 5% SBC reservation to Gujjars and four other communities. The Rajasthan high court stayed the law on December 22, 2010, and asked the state to present quantifiable data to support reservations under SBC The government repealed the 2008 Act and introduced a new bill in September 2015, granting them SBC reservation in jobs and state government-run educational institutions. The Rajasthan HC struck it down on December 9, 2016, on the ground that it crossed the Supreme Court’s 50% limit for
quota in education and jobs. The state government brought a bill in 2017 to raise the OBC quota from the present 21% to 26% for granting 5% reservation to Gujjars and other castes. This, too, was struck down by the HC
How much quota do they get?
Currently, they are getting 1% quota under most backward class (MBC) category, apart from OBC reservation. Reservation in the state stands at 50% – 16% to SC, 12% to ST, 21% to OBC and 1% to Gujjars
Have there been stirs in the past?
In May 2007, Gujjars blocked the Agra-jaipur national highway. Twenty-eight people were killed in police firing. In May 2008, they laid siege to the Delhi-mumbai rail route in Bharatpur district, and allegedly lynched a cop. This led to firing by police that claimed 15 lives. In 2010 and 2015, they blocked railway tracks but there was no violence. The Gujjars lost more than 70 people to police firing and clashes with the Meenas, who were opposing their demand for ST status in 2007.
Who is leading them?
Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla, 85, has been leading the community since 2006 . He contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election on a BJP ticket and lost.