Post Gurjjar stir, Raje fights rush of quota demands

Soon after the Gurjjar agitation, Chief Minister Raje’s office was flooded with demands for reservations from other communities. Sources in the CMO confirmed that at least 10 communities—several of whom share OBC status with the Gurjjars—have demanded inclusion in the ST category. “All of them have categorically mentioned that if Gurjjars get the ST status, they too will have to be given the same,” confirmed a senior officer.

The ones who have already put in their demand with the CM include Nayaks, Nais, Malis, Raibaris and Rawats. Most of the communities already have reservations and are considered SCs or OBCs. Similarly, the Yadhavs, Raibaris and Rawats have been demanding sub-categorisation within the OBC.

Two communities from the General Category—Brahmins and Rajputs—have also started demanding reservations. These two upper castes were earlier part of the Samajik Nyay Manch, which demanded that caste reservation be stopped in the state.

Kalvi claims Raje, during the Assembly election campaigning in 2003, had given the Rajputs written assurance that they would be given reservations. “We have a letter and are not agitating on a mere verbal promise like the Gurjjars,” he said.

The Brahmins, too, don’t want to be left behind. Demanding that they be given reservations on the socio-economic criteria, the Rajasthan Brahmin Mahasabha has also initiated a campaign and threatened a statewide agitation if their demand is not met.

Congress MLA and Brahmin Mahasabha president Bhawarlal Sharma said Brahmins constitute more than 12 per cent of the state’s population. “Brahmins are in a bad shape, socially and economically. They have no jobs, they never owned any land and they are finding it difficult to survive. Instead of caste reservations, we need reservations for the poor and the needy and that is what we are demanding,” said Sharma, clarifying that their agitation would, however, be non-violent.

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