Gujjars to resume agitation for ST status

Jaipur, Sep 7 (UNI) The Gujjar Reservation Action Committee has decided to serve the Rajasthan Government with a notice for next phase of agitation to press the demand for ST status for the community, even as the government is contemplating to accord extension to Justice Chopra Committee constituted to examine the demand.

Action Committee Spokesman Dr Roop Singh told UNI here today that the state government was not interested in a peaceful solution to the Gujjar's legitimate demand and move to grant an extension in term to Justice Chopra Committee was merely a bid to buy time.

He said since the constitution of three member committee under the chairmanship of Justice Jasraj Chopra three months ago, the state government had done nothing to solve the sensitive issue.

Mr Singh said the state government neither provided requisite information to the committee about the status of Gujjar BPL families, landless Gujjars and their employment nor it kept alive communication with action committee.

He said Justice Chopra had himself told the action committee that the government had delayed in providing requisite data and records.

Moreover, the government had also failed to resolve other issues like provision of due assistance to those who were injured in violence during agitation in May-June earlier this year and release of ''innocent'' jailed Gujjar volunteers.

While on the one hand the government had cripled the Chopra Committee's working with its ''non cooperative'' attitude, it had also created a communication gap with the Gujjar action committee, Dr Singh alleged.

''Therefore, the action committee has been left with no option but to return to the path of agitation. We have already chalked out our strategy and will announce the agitation programme at the Gujjar Mahapanchayat in Dholpur on Septmeber 13, a day after the expiry of the present deadline of the Chopra Committee.

The action committee had already conveyed to Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria about its intention and resovle for agitation and would serve the government with a formal notice for agitation by tomorrow evening, Dr Singh added.

Meanwhile, state PWD Minister and Government Spokesman Rajendra Singh Rathore had denied Mr Singh's allegations and said that the Chopra Committee had so far done only 40 per cent of its assigned task and 60 per cent of the procedural work was yet to be done.

Therefore, the state government was having no option but concede the request for grant of extension in its term which expires on September 12, Mr Rathore said He said the matter was pending before Home Minister Mr Kataria and an appropriate decision would be taken in a day or two after considering all aspects.

UNI