Latest news with #MBCs
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Zero demands met': In Rajasthan, Gujjars turn heat on BJP govt, clear decks for new stir
Accusing the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led BJP government in Rajasthan of not addressing any of their long-pending demands even after completing 17 months at the helm, a section of Gujjar leaders have called a Mahapanchayat on June 8 in Bharatpur's Pilupura village close to the railway tracks. The Gurjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti's president Vijay Bainsla said they were forced to call a Mahapanchayat as the Sharma government has done 'zero' works for the Gujjar community. A BJP leader, Vijay — son of the architect of the Gujjar reservation agitation, late Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla — contested the 2023 Assembly elections from Tonk's Deoli Uniara seat on the party's ticket, but lost to the Congress's candidate. On May 23, Vijay proposed the Mahapanchayat from Shaheed Sthal in Pilupura — the nerve centre of the agitation in 2008 where the police had fired on Gujjar protesters, killing several people. 'We have been talking continuously with the government for the last 17 months but things haven't been moving. So the community leaders said we need to hold a Mahapanchayat,' Vijay said. The Gujjar leaders have now been holding several small and big gatherings to mobilise the community for the Mahapanchayat, with peele chawal (yellow rice) being sent to many households for invitation. One of the main grievances of the protesters is related to the roster system of reservation. Currently, Rajasthan has 64% reservation: 21% for OBCs (Other Backward Classes), 16% for SCs (Scheduled Castes), 12% for STs (Scheduled Tribes), 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and 5% for MBCs (Most Backward Classes). Gujjars were included in the MBC category during the tenure of the previous Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government. However, the Gurjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti alleges that Gujjars and other MBC communities have not been getting full benefits of reservation as the current roster system 'reduces' the reserved posts at the local level. Vijay says that the roster system to allot reservation at various levels has led to its 'fragmentation'. 'For example, we are supposed to get 5 posts for every 100 vacancies, or 1 in 20. But the government divides these 100 posts in multiple verticals, including tehsils, districts, departments. So, when the posts are reduced to say, 18, in a vertical, MBCs are left out. Roster system is a way of not giving reservation,' he said, alleging that SCs, STs, OBCs, and EWS were also affected by it. Vijay said the state government in 2019 had submitted before the high court that the MBC candidates are considered first in the general category, then among the OBCs, and then the MBC category, but it has not been implemented yet. He demanded that the proportionate jobs of the last 6 years should be thus given to MBCs. 'They (government) should implement it or issue a corrigendum if they think this was incorrect,' he said. The Samiti has demanded that the backlog for MBCs in Rajasthan Judicial Services should be filled too. The Gujjar protesters have also renewed the demand for inclusion of the 5% MBC reservation in the Ninth Schedule to grant it immunity from a judicial review. The state government had passed the MBC quota law in 2019, but it has not been included in the Ninth Schedule. Gujjars have also been pressing for long for withdrawal of cases against many of their community protesters, which had been lodged against them during several quota agitations over the years. Vijay alleged that not a single case has been withdrawn yet under the current government. In a letter to CM Sharma, he said the government's decision to not withdraw 74 cases (see box) is against the spirit of written agreements signed between the community and the governments over the years. On the other hand, he alleged, the orders for confiscation of land of some of the accused have been issued. He demanded that 'the families of the martyrs of the reservation agitation should get jobs on compassionate grounds, apart from compensation.' Another point of contention is pertaining to the implementation of Devnarayan schemes for the welfare of Gujjar students. Vijay alleged that there has been poor implementation of these schemes for 17 months, adding that neither enough scholarships nor scooties have been provided to eligible students. In the financial year 2024, not a single scooty was provided despite a budget provision of over 20 crores under Devnarayan Chhatra Scooty Yojana, he said. Similarly in 2024-25, only Rs 19 lakh was spent under this head against a budget provision of Rs 50 crore; for this financial year, over a quarter of the budget for Devnarayan schemes lapsed. Vijay said the monthly review meeting of the Devnarayan Board and the government has not taken place for 17 months, demanding its resumption. 'What happens now is what the CM (Bhajan Lal Sharma) wants. If he wants to resolve the issues, they will be resolved. If he wants us to sit on the tracks, so be it. The ball is in his court,' Vijay said. Significantly, Jats of the region have also extended their support to the Gujjars' proposed stir. On Thursday, Jat leader Nem Singh Faujdar, who has been leading a campaign for inclusion of Jats of Bharatpur and Dholpur in the Central OBC list, announced his support to the June 8 Mahapanchayat. Rajasthan Minister of State for Home, Jawahar Singh Bedam, who belongs to the Gujjar community, told The Indian Express: 'Since Vijay Bainsla ji is a BJP leader and there is BJP government, he should meet the CM once and keep his points across; the CM is sensitive. If the talks progress in a positive manner, then certainly the issues can be resolved in a time-bound and lawful manner.' Bedam also said, 'I am myself involved in this and we want all the issues to be resolved in a time- bound manner. I am continuously in touch with officials. Our government is accountable to the people. Whatever the issues are, we will try to resolve them positively by sitting together.' Total cases: 794 Chargesheeted: 373 · Of which withdrawn: 241 · Not withdrawn: 74 · Decided: 46 · Pending in courts: 12 Final reports before courts: 390 · Of which accepted: 361 · Pending in courts: 26 · Returned by courts: 03 Under investigation: 31
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Vivekananda scholarship delay draws concern from LoP Jully
Jaipur: Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully has written to chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressing concern over the delay in the application process for the Swami Vivekananda Scholarship for Academic Excellence, previously known as the Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship for Academic Excellence Tuesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The scholarship funds education in foreign universities for 300 students and 200 in Indian universities as per the 2024 notification. In his letter dated May 27, he pointed out that the scholarship process for Sept 2025 has not yet begun, even though the results for Class 12 were already declared. "The academic sessions in most foreign universities begin in late Aug or early Sept, and with the application process yet to begin, it will be extremely difficult for students to hold on to their offers. Moreover, the govt will face a tight timeline to complete the selection, approval, and disbursement process by July, as students need sufficient time to apply for visas and make travel arrangements," said Jully. He emphasised that the scheme, initially launched in 2021 under the leadership of former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, was aimed at helping meritorious and underprivileged students pursue higher education in top international universities. He even demanded special consideration or reservation for students of marginalised sections, including OBCs, MBCs, SC, ST, and EWS. Shalini Choudhary, a resident of Jaipur, received admission offers from Manchester University and Birmingham University in March. With the universities' deadline to confirm admission approaching in the first week of June, she is struggling to hold her place. "I have to convince them to extend the offer," said a disappointed Choudhary. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "It's frustrating that despite qualifying, I might lose this opportunity due to administrative delays. " Echoing her frustration, Khushi Valecha, who secured an offer to pursue a master's degree from University College London (UCL), said her deadline to confirm admission is also nearing. "We worked hard to earn these offers, but now we're stuck in limbo," she said. "If the scholarship doesn't come through on time, I may have to give up my dream."
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Gurjar Mahapanchayat to be held at Pilupura on June 8
1 2 Jaipur: President of Gurjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, Vijay Bainsla, announced Friday that a Gurjar Mahapanchayat will be held on June 8 in Pilupura, Bharatpur. This location is significant as it was where the Gurjar agitation was initiated by his father and prominent Gurjar leader, Late Kirori Singh Bainsla, in 2008. The announcement was made during a tribute meeting held at Pilupura Shaheed Sthal, the site where police fired on protesters from the Gurjar caste who were demanding special status on May 23, 2008. The Gurjar Mahapanchayat will address several pending issues related to the 5% reservation for most backward classes (MBCs) in govt jobs and educational institutions in Rajasthan. Earlier, the Samiti submitted a memorandum to the department of personnel (DoP) regarding the govt's failure to implement the 5% reservation for MBC candidates in govt jobs and educational institutions. Led by Bainsla, the organisation stated that the govt's current roster system reduces reserved positions at division, district, and block levels, resulting in MBC candidates failing to secure positions. In their memorandum, the Gurjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (GASS) highlighted that while recruitments are announced at the state level, they are implemented by dividing them among divisions, districts, tehsils, and departments. Consequently, while the 5% MBC reservation should apply across Rajasthan, MBC beneficiaries do not receive the full 5% reservation. "Under the 5% reservation, one of 20 positions is reserved for MBCs. When govt jobs are notified, they are done at the state level. When the roster system is applied, state-level recruitment is divided among divisions, districts, tehsils, and departments, and the original 100 recruitments get fragmented. For example, if there is a recruitment for 100 positions, 5 should be reserved for MBCs based on a 5% reservation," it added. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(ML) People's Liberation releases fact-finding team's report on Vadakadu violence
Following a fact-finding visit to Vadakadu village, where caste violence broke out between Scheduled Castes (SC) and Most Backward Classes (MBC) members during the May 5 Muthumariamman temple festival, the CPI(ML) People's Liberation has demanded compensation under the SC/ST Act, legal action against perpetrators, and structural social reforms. Party general secretary Kasi Viduthalaikkumaran said the community was specifically targeted, linking the violence to long-standing inequalities in access to education, employment, and political representation. He said lasting caste harmony requires addressing these disparities. The party said the MBCs in the region had historically been drawn to progressive ideals and leaders who advocated unity among the working classes, but added that high population density and social tensions had made the area vulnerable to incitement by divisive elements. Key demands included the release of Scheduled Caste youths arrested while defending their homes, protection for the SC students taking exams, and the registration of cases under the SC/ST Act against police officers who failed in their duty and those inciting caste hatred. The party sought the reopening of the Adai Kalam Katha Ayyanar temple, restoration of the Anna Football Club playground, transfer of the cremation ground to the SC community, closure of the TASMAC outlet near the SC settlement, and targeted economic support including no-collateral bank loans and agro-based industries. Meanwhile, a complaint was submitted at the Vadakadu police station by Thanga Thirupathi of Servaikaranpatti village, in Vadakadu panchayat seeking legal action against MP Thol. Thirumavalavan for allegedly making misleading TV remarks on the Vadakadu caste clash, which the complainant claims distorted facts, overlooked police clarification, and risked disrupting peace between the MBC and SC communities.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
MBC leaders slam new quota, caste inaccuracies in Karnataka census
BENGALURU: Karnataka's More and Most Backward Caste (MBCs) leaders came together under the leadership of actor-activist Chetan Ahimsa on Thursday, to criticise the Backward Classes Commission, and denounce what they said was 'betrayal of social justice.' Terming the newly-introduced 1B reservation category 'unscientific, unjust, and politically motivated', speakers accused the Commission of bypassing academic and employment data and educational statistics to fabricate the category for political convenience. 'This is not social justice,' declared one speaker. MBC nomadic communities demanded their own scientific subclassification. Actor Chetan Ahimsa said that while the Karnataka Socio-Economic & Educational Survey (SES-2015) was billed as a tool for social justice, it is looking more like caste manipulation. Ahimsa pointed to the sudden formation of 1B category in April 2025, which grants 12 per cent reservation to 80 castes, including the Kuruba community, to which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah belongs. He questioned why castes previously under Groups 1 and 2A were reshuffled, and communities like Kurubas (formerly 2A) were placed with some of the state's most vulnerable, such as Devadasis and Hallaki Vokkaligas. 'The math doesn't add up,' he said. '1B has a population of 73.9 lakh, smaller than 2A's 77.7 lakh, yet gets 2 per cent more reservation. What justifies this?'
