Ramdas suggests all party meet on ST status issue

Jaipur, Jan 5 (UNI) BJP Treasurer and sitting MP Ramdas Agrawal has stressed the need for an all-party meeting for formulation of Rajasthan Government's view over the draft tribal policy forwarded by the VN Lokur Committee for redefining norms for inclusion of new castes and groups in the Scheduled Tribe category.

Addressing a press conference here today Mr Agrawal said he had written a letter to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to convene the meeting at a convenient date, to evolve consensus over the state's view over this contentious issue.

In the letter he had also suggested to the chief minister to explore scope for recommendation to the Centre for creation of new category for extending benefits of reservation to certain castes including Gujjars, Gadia Lohar and other most backward nomadic groups.

He also urged the government to direct to the Rajasthan State Economically Backward Classes Commission to submit its recommendation to the government prior to the budget session of Parliament so that the state government could forward it to the National Commission for Economically Backward Calsses prior to the Central Budget.

UNI SS MS RS1829