1. The Gujjar agitation has the potential to spread to neighbouring States. No matter how genuine their demands are their violent assertion should be condemned, not heed to by political parties. – Raunaq Rathore, Noida (U.P.)
2. The Gujjar agitation proves the emptiness of the government’s reservation policy based on the caste of citizens to bestow benefits on them. It will be in the long term interest of society if the government revises its policies in favour of the economically backward. – Ramamoorthy, Madurai.
3. It seems the Gujjars feel that peaceful agitations have no meaning. This is a dangerous trend. If their protests succeed, then it will be an incentive to other less-represented OBCs to agitate for inclusion in SCs/STs list. The government must deal firmly with the situation without giving in to violence. – N.Mohan, Chennai.
4. The Gujjars should understand that a mere inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list cannot help in their all-round development. The government should focus on the reasons of their backwardness – both educational and social. – Md.Tauseef Hussain, Aligarh (U.P.).
(Letters to the Editor column of The Hindu, May 28, 2008)
5. The Catch 22 situation Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje finds herself in because of the reckless promise on granting Scheduled Tribes status to the Gujjars (Editorial, May 27, 2008, The Hindu) should be an eye-opener to politicians making hard-to-implement electoral promises. It is time political parties stopped making such promises as rice at Rs.2 a kg, free colour TVs, loan waivers, separate statehood, and reservations of various kinds. – B.Harish, Mangalore.
6. Ms Raje should have anticipated a situation like this before making an electoral promise to the Gujjars. State-level riots may potentially lead a nationwide agitation soon.
(Letters to the Editor column of The Hindu, May 29, 2008)
7. What is the rationale behind the provision of reservation envisaged in the Constitution? It is to uplift the backward classes and finally place on equal footing various sections of society. Sadly, the Vasundhara Raje government t has failed to dissipate the indignation of the Gujjars. Nobody has the time to look into the real issues behind the Gujjar outburst. The matter is not about reservation for, if you reservation to one group, another is going to demand the same after a time. It is a pointer to the fact that even after 60 years of Independence, the government has failed to provide equal opportunities for all. – Neetu Baroota, Delhi.
(Letters to the Editor column of The Hindu, May 30, 2008)
8. The violent form that the agitation by Gujjars – for the inclusion of their community in the list of Scheduled Tribes – has assumed shows that the protestors have no faith in non-violence. People in at least three States have been affected. The violence on the streets of the national capital has established the resolve of the Gujjars to continue their agitation. It is time the Rajasthan government and the Centre took appropriate action to protect the common man who is unnecessarily put to trouble by such violence. Disturbance of normal life and vandalism by a section to achieve its ends will set a bad precedent. The tendency should be curbed at all costs. – J.Srinivasan, Dindigul.
9. As responsible citizens who vote in elections, we expect our governments to ensure that harmony prevails in society. In the Gujjars’ case, the Rajasthan government and the Centre are passing the buck. They cannot continue to remain mere spectators to get political mileage from the issue. The absence of effective governance in Rajasthan is affecting other parts of the country while bringing down the nation’s image in the eyes of the world. – Kapil Kumar Singh, New Delhi.
10. One wonders how many of those protesting for the inclusion of Gujjars in the STs list understand what reservation implies. Most of them, it appears, have been misguided into believing that their children will be rendered unemployed unless they get the status. The issue, unfortunately, has snowballed into a massive law and order problem in north India. Disruption of public services, loss of property, violence and death have been the only outcome of the agitation. It only reinforces the fact that education and awareness are the only means to attain a healthy and non-violent society. – Tanvi Raghuwanshi, Jaipur.
11. Now that the Gujjar agitation has started spilling over to northern India, the Centre should start negotiations with the Gujjars. The issue should be given top priority as the Gujjar community is spread across many northern States. – Salin Thomas, Kottayam
12. All political agitations, including the ongoing Gujjar protest, end up in destruction. This, increasingly, appears to be becoming the means of asserting power. Who pays for the damage caused? The taxpayer. – Air Commodore V.V.Nair (retd.), Manipal.
(Letters to the Editor column of The Hindu, May 31, 2008)
Grateful thanks to The Hindu and the individuals who have written the above letters.
2. The Gujjar agitation proves the emptiness of the government’s reservation policy based on the caste of citizens to bestow benefits on them. It will be in the long term interest of society if the government revises its policies in favour of the economically backward. – Ramamoorthy, Madurai.
3. It seems the Gujjars feel that peaceful agitations have no meaning. This is a dangerous trend. If their protests succeed, then it will be an incentive to other less-represented OBCs to agitate for inclusion in SCs/STs list. The government must deal firmly with the situation without giving in to violence. – N.Mohan, Chennai.
4. The Gujjars should understand that a mere inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list cannot help in their all-round development. The government should focus on the reasons of their backwardness – both educational and social. – Md.Tauseef Hussain, Aligarh (U.P.).
(Letters to the Editor column of The Hindu, May 28, 2008)
5. The Catch 22 situation Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje finds herself in because of the reckless promise on granting Scheduled Tribes status to the Gujjars (Editorial, May 27, 2008, The Hindu) should be an eye-opener to politicians making hard-to-implement electoral promises. It is time political parties stopped making such promises as rice at Rs.2 a kg, free colour TVs, loan waivers, separate statehood, and reservations of various kinds. – B.Harish, Mangalore.
6. Ms Raje should have anticipated a situation like this before making an electoral promise to the Gujjars. State-level riots may potentially lead a nationwide agitation soon.
(Letters to the Editor column of The Hindu, May 29, 2008)
7. What is the rationale behind the provision of reservation envisaged in the Constitution? It is to uplift the backward classes and finally place on equal footing various sections of society. Sadly, the Vasundhara Raje government t has failed to dissipate the indignation of the Gujjars. Nobody has the time to look into the real issues behind the Gujjar outburst. The matter is not about reservation for, if you reservation to one group, another is going to demand the same after a time. It is a pointer to the fact that even after 60 years of Independence, the government has failed to provide equal opportunities for all. – Neetu Baroota, Delhi.
(Letters to the Editor column of The Hindu, May 30, 2008)
8. The violent form that the agitation by Gujjars – for the inclusion of their community in the list of Scheduled Tribes – has assumed shows that the protestors have no faith in non-violence. People in at least three States have been affected. The violence on the streets of the national capital has established the resolve of the Gujjars to continue their agitation. It is time the Rajasthan government and the Centre took appropriate action to protect the common man who is unnecessarily put to trouble by such violence. Disturbance of normal life and vandalism by a section to achieve its ends will set a bad precedent. The tendency should be curbed at all costs. – J.Srinivasan, Dindigul.
9. As responsible citizens who vote in elections, we expect our governments to ensure that harmony prevails in society. In the Gujjars’ case, the Rajasthan government and the Centre are passing the buck. They cannot continue to remain mere spectators to get political mileage from the issue. The absence of effective governance in Rajasthan is affecting other parts of the country while bringing down the nation’s image in the eyes of the world. – Kapil Kumar Singh, New Delhi.
10. One wonders how many of those protesting for the inclusion of Gujjars in the STs list understand what reservation implies. Most of them, it appears, have been misguided into believing that their children will be rendered unemployed unless they get the status. The issue, unfortunately, has snowballed into a massive law and order problem in north India. Disruption of public services, loss of property, violence and death have been the only outcome of the agitation. It only reinforces the fact that education and awareness are the only means to attain a healthy and non-violent society. – Tanvi Raghuwanshi, Jaipur.
11. Now that the Gujjar agitation has started spilling over to northern India, the Centre should start negotiations with the Gujjars. The issue should be given top priority as the Gujjar community is spread across many northern States. – Salin Thomas, Kottayam
12. All political agitations, including the ongoing Gujjar protest, end up in destruction. This, increasingly, appears to be becoming the means of asserting power. Who pays for the damage caused? The taxpayer. – Air Commodore V.V.Nair (retd.), Manipal.
(Letters to the Editor column of The Hindu, May 31, 2008)
Grateful thanks to The Hindu and the individuals who have written the above letters.
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