Race To The Bottom
And The War Begins
As the Ranganth Misra committee delivers its report recommending sub-quotas for minorities within existing reservations, in Rajasthan, a different kind of war is brewing,
Two persons were killed on Tuesday when police opened fire at a violent crowd of Gurjar community members who were blocking the National Highway at Peelplikheda village, about 165 kms from Jaipur, in Dausa district.
The protestors, under the aegis of Gurjar Action Committee, were demanding the shifting of the community from OBC category to scheduled tribe. [link]
The reason is pretty simple. Scheduled tribes have been defined by the constitution and any addition to the list can be made only with the concurrence of the Registrar General of India. OBC lists on the other hand depends simply on the whim and fancy of the state government. In most states this has blurred the distinction between OBCs and general category. Naturally, OBC castes now want the scheduled caste/tribe status.
Update: This is far more serious than initially thought. 11 people have died in police firing and the situation seems to be worsening.
Update2- Gujjars are demanding ST status as due to inclusion of Jats as OBCs, they are not able to compete in their category. Meenas, who are a politically important constituency in Rajasthan have threatened to launch an agitation if Gujjaras are included in the ST category.
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