The violent protests by the Gujjar community of Rajasthan demanding their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe Community and the killing of more than a dozen protestors in the Police Firing are most unfortunate. Since democracy provides ample space for meaningful dialogues before any kind of protests to press for the demands such violent protests have very little place, though India has been witnessing avoidable violence even for flimsy demands which could be discussed across the table.
It is interesting to note that more and more communities in India are demanding to be included in the list of SC, ST and OBCs. This is aimed at ensuring their share in the attractive Reservation Pie. More and more communities and demanding their space in the already jam-packed room for the SC, ST and OBCs. At the same time, there is also vehement opposition to expand the list by already those who are in the list fearing dilution of their share. Both are against the basic spirit of the principles of reservation. This is precisely what has been happening in Rajasthan where the Gujjars are demanding their inclusion even as the politically strong Meenas are putting up fire-walls to thwart the attempts of the former from gaining entry into the privileged Quota List.
No community should have the privilege to demand their forcible inclusion in the list of SC, ST and OBCs. Similarly, no castes already enjoying the fruits of reservation must have the veto power to prevent the legitimate inclusion of others in the list of SC, ST and OBCs. The Government has to ensure that all eligible contestants get a balanced share of the benefits of the reservation.
In the meantime, the BJP appears to have been caught in a cleft stick of the reservation row. The BJP as the ruling party has a constitutional and moral duty to put an end to the violence with an iron hand and at the same time endeavour to find an amicable solution to this knotty issue through negotiation table. The opposition parties should demonstrate political savvy not to fish in the troubled waters as the reservation rows of such nature have fire power to destroy the peace and communal amity of the society.
1 comment:
The Meena comunity of Rajasthan has the best standard of living as compared to any of the ST communities of north India. They have a lion`s share in the elite Civil Services of India. Its high time that the community is delisted from the category as a Scheduled Tribe. The basic aim of reservation is to uplift a dowtrodden community to the stage where they have the access to compete on an equal footing. In the case of the Meena community this has been achieved out of proportion.
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