BJP asks Centre to consider Raj's request on Gujjar reservation

New Delhi, May 31 (UNI) With the Gujjar agitation turning violent, claiming numerous lives during the past one week in Rajasthan, the BJP today again appealed to the Centre not to stand on technicalities but amend the parameters for according Scheduled Tribe status to the nomadic community.

BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad said the Congress had taken Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje's letter urging the Centre to include Gujjars, a denotified tribe, under ST status, with a political tinge. She had also sent the report and recommendations of the Justice Chopra committee to the Centre which had gone into the Gujjars' demand, he added.

He said it would be virtually impossible for the state to do make a recommendation as the powers to amend these provisions were vested with the Centre alone. It had also sought relaxation of stringent parameters of tribal status like the tribe should do forest dwelling and shy of interacting with the mainstream.

The Gujjar demand seeking ST status, he said, has a potential to escalate into a caste conflict and the Congress has a responsiblity of acting with all responsibility and not stand on technicalities.

It is a political and constitutional issue and the Government will have to consider the demand in proper spirit without standing on formalities, he added.

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