Govt's Gurjar quota panel meets without stakeholders
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The three-member panel, headed by parliamentary affairs minister Jogaram Patel, convened to discuss the possibility of including the 5% Most Backward Classes (MBC) quota for Gurjars in the Constitution's Ninth Schedule. The committee includes social justice minister Avinash Gehlot and minister of state for home Jawahar Singh Bedam.
Speaking to TOI, Patel said, "Samiti members were invited yesterday (Monday) to attend the meeting but somehow nobody turned up today.
I'm sure they will join the next meeting, which will be scheduled soon."
The samiti members' absence raised concerns about the consultation process. A samiti representative, speaking on condition of anonymity, cited last minute notice as the reason for their non-attendance.
"Most of our members are spread across the state. Such short notice made it logistically impossible to attend the meeting," the samiti member said.
"With the Aug 8 deadline approaching, we expect better coordination," the representative said, warning of "indefinite protests" if the deadline is missed.
The deadline stems from a June 8 Gurjar Mahapanchayat, where the state govt promised to address the community's demands within two months. Patel, however, downplayed timeline concerns, stating, "What matters is that the process has been initiated."
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