Bidhuri terms accord between Gujjars, Raje govt 'total fraud'

Jaipur, Jun 20 (UNI) All India Gujjar Reservation Action Committee Chief and Delhi MLA Ranvir Singh Bidhuri(NCP) today termed the June 18 accord between the Gujjar leaders and the Rajasthan government "total fraud" as the proposed reservation for the Gujjars would not be able to overcome legal challenges.

Talking to newspersons here Mr Bidhuri, who had led the Gujjar delegation in the opening round of talks with the state government, claimed that Gujjar delegation leader and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Jammu and Kashmir Vice Chancellor Masood Chaudhary and Haryana MLA Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria had also rejected the accord.

The NCP legislator said he himself and Mr Chaudhary had withdrawn from the dialogue process in midway as the state government proposals were "fraud and mischief" played with the community.

Mr Bidhuri said the state government delegation leader BJP MP Ramdas Agrawal and others had categorically committed on June 17 evening that the government would send proper recommendation to the Centre for inclusion of Gujjars in the ST list and in addition to it would also provide the community 5 per cent reservation under specially created category.

The state government had also made categorical commitments for withdrawal of the cases against the protesters. Accordingly, the Gujjar leaders, including Mr Bidhuri, had jointly announced consensus for a settlement on June 17 night.

However, on the next day the government had gone back from its commitment and refused to recommend the Centre for ST status and on other contentious points.

Mr Bidhuri said there was a consensus on June 17 that 5 per cent reservation being proposed for Gujjars would be given in a way so that it remained within the ceiling of 50 per cent but on the next day the government decided to give additional reservation quota exceeding the ceiling of 50 per cent.

The government also refused to make written commitment for withdrawal of cases and release of Gujjar protesters.

Therefore, according to present accord, signed on June 18, neither there would be recommendatory letter to the Centre in favour of the Gujjars' ST status, nor the Gujjars would get 5 per cent reservation as the matter was likely to attract legal hurdles.

Mr Bidhuri said this was great "fraud and mischief" played by the Vasundhara Raje government with Gujjar community and therefore Gujjars would teach a befitting lesson to the BJP in the next Assembly elections in the state.

UNI SS SW RP RK1651