By IANS
Jaipur : Bhils and Meenas, two tribal communities in Rajasthan, have strongly opposed the demand of the Gujjars to be included in the scheduled tribe category.
The Meenas, one of the most high-profile tribal communities in the state, have told the Justice Jasraj Chopra committee looking into the demands of the Gujjars that they completely disagree with the stand taken by the Gujjars.
“The Gujjar demand is a political conspiracy and Meenas would not accept it at any cost,” the leaders told the committee this week, sources told IANS here Friday.
The Gujjars are presently classified as other backward classes (OBC) in Rajasthan.
The Bhil community has also opposed any move to grant tribal status to the Gujjars. Bhils, one of the backward communities in the desert state, have instead demanded a separate six percent reservation for themselves.
A delegation of the Rajasthan Pradesh Bhil Samaj Pratinidhi Mandal (RPBSPM) presented its case before the Chopra committee earlier this week.
According to sources, the delegation told the committee that the traditions and customs of the Gujjars were not like tribals.
The Gujjars held protests all over Rajasthan from May 29 to June 4 demanding their inclusion in the scheduled tribe category. Normal life was paralysed and at least 26 people were killed in the violence.