India News

Gujjar panel to submit report Monday

Dec 15, 2007, 17:41 GMT

Jaipur, Dec 15 (IANS) The high-powered Justice Jasraj Chopra committee, studying the Gujjar community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status, will submit its report to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Monday.

'The report by Justice Chopra Committee will be submitted to the chief minister Monday and it would be further sent to the central government,' a senior state government official said.

Sources in the government said that the report was not likely to be made public immediately.

The committee, set up by the state government June 12 following an understanding between it and the representatives of the Gujjar Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti, was to submit its report in three months, that is, on Sep 12.

However, responding to the committee's letter of Aug 30 the state government had extended its time to Dec 15.

Gujjars, presently belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC), held protests all over Rajasthan from May 29 to June 4 demanding their inclusion into the Scheduled Tribe category that would give them better employment and educational opportunities.

Normal life was paralysed and at least 26 people were killed in the violence.

Meanwhile, the Meena community, a dominating force in the tribal category in Rajasthan has been opposing the Gujjar demand, as they believe their benefits would get diluted.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service