Chopra Committee to hear Meena pleas today

Jaipur, Aug 11 (UNI) The special committee headed by Justice Jasraj Chopra to examine the Gujjar's demand for ST status will hear the plea of Meena community, who are vehemently opposing the move, here today.

The hearings by the government appointed three-member committee comprising retired High Court Judge Justice Chopra, T Srinivasan and Prof Yogesh Atal, have been hearing the arguments of both Gujjar and Meena communties.

Yesterday, Gujjars including former minister Dr Jitendra singh, NL Gujjar, N K Bhadana and others contended before the committee that theirs remain one of the most backward castes till today.

They said that they have been projected as a primitive and nomadic tribe in the book by William Crook titled 'Tribes and Caste'.

They further claimed that before the Aryas arrived, Gujjars were the most primitive community as they depend on forest, livestock, land, water and wild animals for survival.

The community still decides major issues by caste panchayats and only two per cent women and girls of the community were educated till. There were no IPS or IAS officers from their caste, they claimed.

Meenas, have, however, raised objections and have sought physical verification of the documents presented by Gujjars in support of their demands.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan High Court has asked the state government to give details on the scope of the Justice Chopra committee by August 17, asking it to clarify the areas, functions and points that would be considered by the committee.

UNI