What the Meena-Gujjar conflict is about

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Last updated on: June 01, 2007 22:41 IST

Rajasthan is sitting on a potential caste war between the Gujjars and Meenas with the former demanding their entry into the Schedule Tribes list while the Meenas are looking to keep their turf intact by resisting any tampering with the ST quota.

The Meenas have also given an ultimatum to the government that if it fails to remove the road block and control violence by the Gujjars it will hit the street to take on Gujjars.

Social and political organisations of the Meenas have expressed their strong resentment over the Gujjars forceful entry into their houses and targeting Meena government officials during the ongoing agitation.

Jangati Arashan Bachavo Samyukt Sangarsh Samiti in its meeting said in such a situation the Meenas have no option but come out and defend themselves.

Samiti president Nandalal Meena MLA said, "The Meena community is restrained and it will resist any attempt to tamper with the ST quota." There were reports that the Meenas in Karauli, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Banswara are mobilising their forces to counter the Gujjar movement.

Meanwhile, the Gujjar leaders accused the government of turning the Meena community against them. Gujjar Mahasabha national vice president and former BJP MLA Gopi Chand Gujjar said, "With the Gujjar agitation spreading to newer areas and the government miserably failing to control the agitation, some vested interests were trying to incite the Meenas against the Gujjars which is the last thing we need at the moment''.

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