Gujjar quota stir: Internet services banned in Bharatpur

The district administration in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur on Saturday banned mobile internet services for 48 hours, till May 13, in view of the proposed agitation announced by Gujjars to press for 5% reservation from within the 21% OBC quota.

The Gujjar community leaders have called a mahapanchayat at Adda village in Bayana block of Bharatpur on May 15, which would take call on reviving the quota agitation.

Divisional Commissioner, Bharatpur, Subir Kumar said mobile internet services will remain barred till May 13 and may be extended in some areas in case Gujjars proceed with their agitation.

“We are in talks with Gujjar leaders. We have asked them not to create and law and order problems. The district administration is on alert and extra police forces will be called if needed,” said Sandesh Nayak, district collector.

Superintendent of police Anil Kumar Tank said several battalions of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) will reach Bharatpur on Sunday and will be deployed in sensitive areas.

Incidentally, Gujjars in some 80 villages of Bharatpur have decided decided to boycott the agitation. They have accused Community leader Colonel (retd) Kirori Singh Bainsla of harbouring political ambitions. Some community leaders also announced that they’ll not let Bainsla launch the agitation from Adda village.

Bainsla, meanwhile, reached Adda village on Friday. He said the mahapanchayat would be held as per the schedule. He also did not announce any change in venue. His supporters have already started a village to village drive to garner support for the mahapanchayat.

On Friday, Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel announced his support to the stir by the Gujjar community. “I will support the Gujjar agitation in a non-violent manner and will be ready to fight for the rights of any community,” Patel had told reporters in Pushkar.

Gujjars in rajasthan are currently getting one per cent reservation under Most Backward Classes (MBC). They want bifurcation of OBC quota so that the community gets five per cent reservation.

The Rajasthan Assembly had in October last year passed a bill to raise OBC reservation from 21 to 26 per cent to provide five per cent quota to the Gujjars and other castes. However, the high court stayed the bill as it would have increased the reservation to 54 per cent.

Later, the Supreme Court also directed the state government not to exceed the 50 per cent reservation limit.