By IANS
Jaipur : Rajasthan’s Meena community, which is opposed to Gujjars being granted Scheduled Tribe status, has decided to call a mass meet (mahapanchayat) Oct 14 to discuss the issue.
The community leaders have invited 31 tribal legislators of the state assembly for the meet to be held in Maach village near Karauli, around 180 km from here.
“If their views are found to be supportive on modifying the tribal list then the community people will be told not to vote for them,” a Meena leader said.
The mass meet, which over 200,000 people are expected to attend, is also likely to decide the party or candidates the Meenas should vote for. The final agenda of the meeting would be decided Oct 13.
The Meenas, a dominating tribal community, are opposed to any move to grant tribal status to Gujjars.
The Meenas have earlier conveyed their views to the Justice Jasraj Chopra Committee, which is looking into the Gujjars’ demand for inclusion into the tribal list.
Meanwhile, the Janjati Aarakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, an organisation of tribals in Rajasthan, has warned of serious consequences if the existing list of Scheduled Tribes is changed.
“If Gujjars are classified as Scheduled Tribe (ST), then the tribals will be on the roads,” said Shreenarayan Kaimla, a Samiti leader.
Over 62,000 Gujjars across Rajasthan had courted arrest Oct 2, demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the community. They feel such status would provide them better educational and job opportunities.
Gujjars, presently classified as other backward classes (OBC), held protests across the state from May 29 to June 4. Normal life was paralysed and at least 26 people were killed in the associated violence.