Gujjar Agitation Forces Rajasthan Govt to Introduce 5% Quota Bill for Community, 4 Other Castes

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government on Wednesday introduced a bill in the Assembly to give a five per cent quota in jobs and educational institutes to Gujjars and four other communities agitating for it since last Friday.

The bill seeks to increase the backward classes’ reservation from the present 21 per cent to 26 per cent with five per cent reservation to Gujjars, Banjaras, Gadia Lohars, Raikas and Gadaria.

The state government introduced the Rajasthan Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutes in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services under the State) Amendment Bill, 2019, for giving reservation to Gujjars and the other castes.

Energy Minister BD Kalla presented the bill in the Assembly to pacify members of the Gujjar community that has been holding demonstrations across the state for quota.

They blocked the Delhi-Mumbai railway track and several highways and roads.

The statement on the objective and reasons of the bill stated that the five castes are most backward and require five per cent separate reservation. It also mentions that the central government recently passed the constitution amendment bill and the limit of 50 per cent reservation was increased.

Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla and his supporters have been at the forefront of this agitation for quota.

Gujjars had earlier given the Rajasthan government a 20-day ultimatum to clear its stand on providing the quota.

The five communities have a separate 1 percent reservation under the most-backward category, in addition to the quota they get as Other Backward Classes.

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