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Other tribes oppose Gujjar demand

By IANS

Jaipur : The Gujjars are facing stiff opposition to their demand for tribe status, with a body representing tribes in Rajasthan asking a high-powered panel to closely examine the authenticity of documents submitted by the community.

The Janjati Aarkashan Bachao Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, a body of communities classified as tribals in the state, Tuesday met the Justice Jasraj Committee that is looking into the Gujjar demand.

This comes close on the heels of tribes like Meenas and Bheels telling the committee they were opposed to tribal status for Gujjars.

“We requested the committee to institute a thorough examination and verification process of documents presented by Gujjars in support of their demand,” Ramnarayan Nagwa, president of the Janjati Aarkashan Bachao Sanyukt Sangarsh Samiti, told IANS.

“If these documents or affidavits submitted by Gujjars are found to be fake then strict action must be taken against the guilty people,” Nagwa said. “We have also demanded that a magistrate look into these documents and verify their authenticity.”

Before this, Meena Mahasabha, a body representing them, had told the committee that the claim of Gujjars of being tribals was false and baseless.

The Bheel community has also opposed any move to grant tribal status to Gujjars. Bheels, who make up one of the most backward communities in the desert state, have demanded a separate six percent reservation for themselves.

Bheels constitute around 39 percent of Rajasthan’s tribal population of around 7.1 million. A delegation of the Rajasthan Pradesh Bheel Samaj Pratinidhi Mandal presented its case before the committee here recently. The delegation told the committee that the lifestyle, traditions and customs of Gujjars do not resemble that of tribals, sources said.

The panel has also heard the views of Gujjars. A delegation of the Gujjar Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti (GASS), the body spearheading the protests demanding tribal status for the community, had presented its report before the committee.

The report included over 135,000 affidavits and 20,000 pictures from all over Rajasthan supporting the Gujjar demand for tribal status.

Gujjars, who are currently classified under other backward classes (OBC), had held protests all over Rajasthan from May 29 to June 4 demanding their inclusion into the scheduled tribe category that would give them better educational and employment opportunities.

Normal life was paralysed during the protests and at least 26 people were killed in the ensuing violence.