Lalu Prasad Yadav on Rajasthan's Gujjar Agitation

The Gujjar agitation was a consequence of the bungling by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. However, accepting the demands of the community for a scheduled tribe status would trigger similar demands from others.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje was the root cause behind the spread of agitation by Gujjars, which has lost its direction. Acquiescing to the demands of Gujjars for scheduled tribe status would fuel similar demands by others which would lead to a constitutional crisis.

Even the Gujjars know their demands would never be met. The process for inclusion of communities into the scheduled list is mentioned in our Constitution and is a very lengthy one.

When you try to change the Constitution, it would trigger a wave of resentment among others. Those already in the list would feel reservation is being extended to others at their cost and they are being deprived of it forcefully.

The Gujjar agitation would lead to threats from other organizations to press their demands or by people driven by ambitions of becoming leaders or even to highlight obscure causes. This is not in the best interest of the country.

The loss caused to the Indian Railways is yet to be estimated but the damage has been severe. Several trains, both passenger and goods, have been cancelled.
It is unfortunate that the Gujjars have vented their anger by disrupting the rail lines, but they do not realize they have dismantled lifelines of the country. Opening fire on the agitators is not right as the matter should have been sorted out amicably through dialogue. The Gujjars too should avoid the path of violence. Vasundhara first promised reservation in the election manifesto and now she is not keeping her word, which has fuelled the agitation further.