BJP hopeful of negotiated settlement to Gujjar agitation

New Delhi, Jun 3 (UNI) With the signs of Gujjar tension easing in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today said it was hopeful of finding a negotiated solution very soon.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar, who had been camping in the state for the last two days, said the Vasundhara Raje government and the party organisation working in tandem are making efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue with all concerned.

He said it was not enough for the state government to send its recommendations for including a new tribe under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes list in a prescribed format.

There was an instance in 1981, when the Rajasthan government headed by Shiv Charan Mathur had sought the inclusion of Loharis, Banjaras and Rewaris into the ST list in the prescribed format.

However, nothing happened during the last 25 years, he underlined.

Interestingly, the state government, he said, had sent its recommendation to amend the ST list by including the names of some tribes including Gujjars on 3rd December 1999. The letter had clearly stated that the government would deem the final formalities were completed if there was no 'confirmation or denial' to its proposal.

Technically, the recommendation concerning the inclusion of Gujjar Community was before the Central government in the prescribed format and the Centre had done nothing even about this proposal, he added.

UNI MCN/KAS ATI RP BD1722