Col Bainsala calls for Gujjar leaders resignation

Jaipur, Dec 20 (UNI) Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti Convenor Col Kirori Singh Bhaisala today asked the Gujjar leaders, including Ministers and 'sarpanch' associated with the BJP, to resign with immediate effect to protest the alleged ''breach of trust'' by the Vasundhara Raje government here.

He warned that those who did not follow the community's 'diktat' would have to face a social boycott.

Addressing a press conference, the first after the Chopra committee made public its decision on the Gujjar reservation issue, Col Bainsala said the Gujjars would decide its future course of action at a 'Rashtriya Mahapanchayat' to be held in Bayana in Bharatpur district on January 13.

Col Bainsala termed the state government stand that it would only forward the Chopra Committee report without any recommendation favouring ST status to the Gujjar community, contrary to the government's June 4 agreement.

''The state government had to forward the report with a remark or recommendation...the mere forwarding of the report is simply unacceptable to the community,'' he said.

Mr Bainsala urged the BJP government to rethink on its stand and asked both the state and Central governments to clear their stand on Gujjars demand for their inclusion in the ST list.

''I appeal to the governemnt to rethink on its stand within two days and clear its stand on the Gujjars' demand,'' he added.

Mr Bainsala said of the 700 castes in the ST, which constitute about 8.5 crore population in the country, only 75 tribes have primitive features. So why are the Gujjars being denied their due?'' he asked.

He claimed that the Chopra Committe had not made any recommendation that the Gujjars should not be included in the ST. ''It has instead accepted the fact that the condition of the Gujjars is worse than many communities already enjoying the reservation under the ST category.

UNI