Meenas back five percent special quota for Gujjars

Jaipur, June 7(ANI): In a major breakthrough to end the standoff between the Meenas and the Gujjars, the former has agreed to support the five percent special quota for Gujjars.

This was in contrast to an earlier opposition voiced by the Meenas, which resulted in violent protests by the Gujjars.

In a meeting that was convened at Jaipur on Saturday, chaired by the state's Home (law and order) Minster, Shanti Kumar Dhariwal, leaders of both communities came together and unanimously agreed to make peace with each other.

"The meeting was a success because all the 40 representatives of both the communities put forth their opinions, and they all agreed on a consensus that both the communities want to make peace with each other," said Shanti Kumar Dhariwal.

The two communities, the Gujjars and the Meenas have been at loggerhead as the former wants to be declared a Scheduled Tribe (ST) at par with the other, which entitles them quotas and jobs.

The Meenas had earlier opposed granting of tribal status to the Gujjars, fearing that they will lose their own slice of quota. (ANI)