Gurjjars stick to their guns, refuse to bite Raje’s carrot

Much to the disappointment of the Vasundhara Raje Government, all its attempts to pacify the agitating Gurjjars have gone in vain.

Much to the disappointment of the Vasundhara Raje Government, all its attempts to pacify the agitating Gurjjars have gone in vain.

Even as the Government is preparing a special economic package for the Gurjjar-dominated areas of the state in its Budget, the community has already announced its plans to intensify its campaign for securing the Scheduled Tribes status.

Not only are the Gurjjars planning to hold a Mahapadav in Jaipur on March 10, they have also made it clear that they will not support the BJP Government, which has failed to fulfil their demands, in the coming Assembly elections.

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Gurjjar leader Col Kirordi Singh Bainsla hinted that though this boycott of the BJP would be followed in Rajasthan only, they would make an appeal to the members of the community in other states also to do the same.

This announcement has added to the worries of the Raje Government which is already facing a backlash from Rajputs, Jats and Brahmins, who too are demanding special reservations.

The state Government is hoping that the special package for the Gurjjars, including special programmes for improving education and medical facilities, initiating scholarship programmes for students along with special employment schemes for the youths, would do some damage control. The Ramdas Agarwal Committee, constituted by the Raje Government to help draft this special economic package, is expected to submit its report by February-end. Based on the committee’s suggestions, the Government would announce the package, most likely to be implemented in Khandar, Aklera, Thanagaji, Jhalrapatan and Sapotra, where the Gurjjars were identified as the most backward by the Justice Jasraj Chopra Committee.

How far this package will mollify the Gurjjars is yet to be seen. Meanwhile, the Gurjjar leaders have already said that they are not interested in the package and have also invited other communities like Rajputs and Brahmins to join them in their agitation.