In a previous blog I had written “If people in favour of reservations come to streets, people opposed to reservations can also come to streets.”
The clash between Gujjars and Meenas testifes this. Gujjars are OBCs in Rajasthan. They want to be included in STs. Meenas do not want to Gujjars to be included in STs. Gujjars began a violent stir. Violence spread outside Rajasthan. Meenas are responding with violence. Gujjars and Meenas have become enemies.
BJP leaders should not have promised ST status to Gujjars. The events are a lesson to politicians who make promises they do not intend to keep or can not keep.
Inclusion of Jats in OBCs affected Gujjars. Splitting the OBC seats between Gujjars and Jats will infuriate Jats.
In Punjab, Sikhs had roamed the streets with swords in their hands. No action was taken against them. This emboldened the Gujjars.
People have no right to block highways and remove railways tracks. Rajasthan has BJP Government. UPA Government is at the Centre. Law and order is a state subject. Rajasthan Government should act tough. Wherever necessary it should seek Centre’s assistance. Both should join together in enforcing law and order. Those who are blocking highways should be removed. Those who removed railway tracks must be arrested. UP, Haryana and Delhi also must act tough with violent agitators.
Reservations for SCs, STs, OBCs, EBCs and other groups should be abolished. There should be no new reservations, including for those who are poor. Reservations for poor will result in corruption and fake certificates. All political parties must come together and move fast. If necessary, India should have a new constitution.
