Gurjjars, Meenas talk peace, agree on 5% Gurjjar quota

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Jaipur: Peace is being brokered between the Gurjjar and Meena communities in Rajasthan, engaged in a bitter social and political battle for two years now over the sensitive reservation issue. The Ashok Gehlot government’s attempt to engage leaders of both communities in dialogue and Union minister of state for communication Sachin Pilot’s visit to a Meena household recently has led to Gurjjars and Meenas showing alacrity in burying the hatchet after two years.

Pilot spent a night in a Meena hamlet in Ajmer recently while touring his new constituency. The young MP was a guest of Baad ka Jhopda village sarpanch Ganpat Meena, who he also travelled with in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. Pilot’s sudden visit comes a week after Rajasthan home minister Shanti Dhariwal, aided by two ministers and administration officials, conducted talks between 40 Gurjjar and Meena leaders.

The two events already seem to have had some effect, with K L Meena offering to support the Gurjjar community in its endeavour to secure 5% reservation in the state. “We support the 5% reservation granted to the Gurjjar community and resolved at the talks that we will make peace with each other,” Meena said. However, Kirori Singh Bainsla, who fought and lost the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket from the Sawai Madhopur-Tonk seat stated that he would not end his struggle immediately. “My fight is for my community and I will continue my struggle till the 5% reservation is given to Gurjjars,” Bainsla said.

Rajasthan Congress spokesperson Satinder Raghav stated that peace between the two communities was a top priority for the Congress. “Gurjjars and Meenas have constantly been at loggerheads, which has led to the deterioration of the situation in East Rajasthan. The CM has said that the situation must be resolved to avoid another violent stir,” Raghav said.