Securing future: Wary Rajasthan now offers 1 per cent quota to Gurjars

Jaipur: Scare given by recent Gujarat Assembly elections seems to be having an impact as a jittery BJP announced one per cent quota to Gurjars and four other castes. After state cabinet’s approval, the proposal has been sent to governor. The government will issue notification after the Governor’s assent.

Five castes including Gurjars will get one per cent reservation within the 50 per cent legal limit in Rajasthan, parliamentary affairs minister Rajendra Singh Rathore said.

Apart from Gurjars other four castes are Banjara/Baldia/Labana, Gadia-Lohar/Gadalia, Raika/Rebari and Gadaria.

“The decision was taken to give one per cent reservation to Gurjars and other castes under the most backward category,” said state parliamentary affairs minister Rajendra Rathore. A notification will be issued after the governor’s approval, he said. The present overall reservation percentage in the state stands at 49 per cent. The five castes were included in the Other Backward Classes list in 1994. However, since 2007, the Gurjars have been demanding that they should be either given separate reservation or the government should create a division within the OBC alleging that some influential communities have been cornering major portion. However, the government was not willing to do as it would have antagonise politically influential Jat community, which is opposed to any categorisation.

At present the state has 21 percent OBC, 16 percent SC and 12 percent ST reservation.

The BJP hopes that the move will benefit it in the upcoming by-polls in Ajmer and Alwar Lok Sabha seats and Mandalgarh assembly seats where the Gurjars are in dominating position.