A day after quota act, Gujjars still on railway tracks

JAIPUR/BHARATPUR: Gujjars demanding reservation in jobs and educational institutions refused to accept the government’s 5% hike in reservations as the total reservation allotted by the government now exceeds the limit set by the Supreme Court, and is hence susceptible to be struck down. The stir entered its seventh day on Thursday.

Increasing the backward classes’ reservation from 21% to 26%, the state assembly yesterday passed The Rajasthan Backward Classes (Reservation of seats in educational institutes in the state and of appointments and posts in services under the s t at e ) ( Amendement) Bil l 2019.

The new law will further increase the quota in the state to 5 4 %, whi c h i s b e y o n d t h e Supreme Court 50% cap on reservations.

Tourism Minister Vishwendra Singh, who is part of the ministerial committee constituted over Gujjar agitation, said, “The government has fulfilled promises made and I am hopeful that the stalemate will be over by Friday.”

Gujjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti President Colonel Kirodi Singh Bainsla said, “We will continue the stir till we get our dues. We have received the Bill but there is no provision to deal with the litigation complication…there will be a writ petition and it will be quashed.”

Advocate Shailendra Singh, who is part of Bainsla’s team said, “We are examining the bill and its legality.”

Protestors continued to block railway tracks in Sawai Madhopur, roads and highways at many places in the state. On Thursday, t he p r o t e s t o r s blocked a highway near Masuda in Ajmer, while several trains have been cancelled and many were di verted t o al t ernate routes due to the agitation.

They also sat on the MumbaiDel h i r a i l way track near Malarna Dungar and Sawai Madhopur-jaipur t rack at Chauth Ka Barwara in Sawai Madhopur as well.

Earlier in the day, IAS officer Neeraj Kumar Pawan reached Malarna railway track, where Bainsla is sitting and handed copies of the Bill.

Neeraj Pawan said “The Bill has been unanimously passed in the assembly and copies of it have been given to Bainsla. In addition to it, the copy of administrative resolution has also been given urging the central government to include the Gujjar quota law in the ninth schedule of the constitution.”