By IANS
New Delhi : The Gujjars will re-launch their "do-or-die struggle" if the Rajasthan government denies them the status of a tribe, their leader Kirori Singh Bhainsla has warned.
Bhainsla, who led a violent weeklong protest late last month in Rajasthan demanding affirmative action for Gujjars, also cautioned Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje against playing "politics" with him, even as he added he had full faith in her.
"The movement is a do-or-die struggle. It does not matter that more lives could be lost in the struggle to achieve reservations for Gujjars," Bhainsla told interviewer Karan Thapar in CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme telecast Sunday.
"This is a fight to the end for justice," he added.
The weeklong agitation that claimed 25 lives was called off after the state government agreed to constitute a committee to study the Gujjars' demand even as the Meenas, the dominant community from the state with the tribal status, opposed the move.
"I personally feel the Meenas' opposition is undemocratic and unconstitutional. If the Rajasthan government pays attention or tilts towards Meenas, the consequences are going to be dire," Bhainsla maintained.
The Gujjar leader hoped the three-member committee appointed by the Rajasthan government would not decide against reservations for the Gujjars, saying if that were to happen, the campaign will be launched once again.
Bhainsla said he was not unduly worried about some criticism against him within the Gujjar community. "I will explain to them at the Mahapanchayat meet on June 24 what were the options before me for negotiations with Raje," he said.
"I am sure I will get hundred percent support from my community."
Bhainsla had said before talks with Raje that he would withdraw the campaign even if she did not agree to their terms, which had invited sharp criticism from his community. He readily accepted his mistake as a slip of tongue.
He also said he had no desire to enter politics and would not allow members of his community to push him into taking such a decision.