Gujjar leaders are again on fire and threatened the Rajasthan government to re-launch the protest over the non-inclusion of Gujjars in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. On Thursday, The Gujjar Mahapanchayat said that the community would re-launch a state-wide Jail Bharo movement from October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti), if the state government fails to take any decision in this matter.

Gurjar community currently enjoys the status of OBC. Gujjars’ agitation over the issue to include the community in ST category had led to wide-spread violence in May this year.

The Mahapanchayat asked the state government to send a letter of recommendation to the Centre for the inclusion of Gujjar community in ST status. If the state government would fail to do so by October 2, Gujjars would start a massive jail bharo protest.

Gurjar leader Colonel Bainsla gave an ultimatum to Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan and said:

Give Gurjars the SC (Scheduled Tribe) status before October 2nd or watch things take a dangerous turn.

Bhainsla said in Mahapanchayat held in Dholpur district that the state government had promised us for taking step in this direction but nothing has happened till the date. He said that if the promises made to the Gujjar community are not implemented, the agitation could take a dangerous turn. Confusion has been prevailing in the Gurjar community.

Bhainsla said that community has started doubting on his intentions because he had negotiated the matter with the Rajasthan Chief Minister to stop the Gujjar protest. Bhainsla said that the people though I have taken a soft stand.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Rajasthan government had extended the term of the Chopra panel and asked the Gujjar leaders to cooperate government. The government had formed the Chopra panel to decide the issue regarding the demand of Scheduled Tribe status for Gujjars. On Thursday, the Gujjar leaders rejected the demand and threatened to re-launch their protest from October 2.

Bhainsla said:

We will start a peaceful agitation from Gandhi Jayanti if government fails to give us the letter of recommendation to provide ST status to our community.

People have started doubting my intentions and feel I have adopted a soft stance. The government should act before it is too late as the agitation could take a dangerous turn.

Bainsala was reportedly looking in favour of extension to the Chopra Commission for one month. However, other leaders such as Rama Pilot Prahlad Gunjal, Karatar Singh Badhana rejected their accord for any extension to the panel. Later, all the leaders at Mahapanchayat determinedly demanded immediate submission of the report.

Congress MP Sachin Pilot said:

This is not a political struggle but a social movement that will continue till our demand is met. We have lost 26 lives during the agitation in May. Everyone is determined to fight for justice.

Later, Dholpur SP Devender Singh confirmed that at least 1.5 lakh people were present at the Mahapanchayat that ended peacefully.The state government had asked the top police officials of Bhaartpur, Duasa, Karauli, Alwar, Jaipur to keep an eye on the meeting. However, the organizers said that more than 5 lakh people were ther at the Mahapanchayat.

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