The Gujjars of Rajasthan are a divided house today, five months after their agitation for Scheduled Tribe status held the entire state to ransom and claimed around 25 lives.
Retired Col Kirori Singh Bainsala, the man who spearheaded the statewide agitation in May–June this year, is facing an open revolt within the community.
Some core committee members of the Gujjar Mahasabha have 'removed' him from the post of convenor and rejected the agreement he negotiated with the state government on Saturday.
The government had accepted some demands of the community, at a meeting in Ajmer on Saturday. However, chief minister Vasundhara Raje is yet to ratify the deal - a fact Bhainsala’s detractors are using to the hilt. The state government, moreover, has not accepted the Gujjars' main demand - to recommend Gujjars' inclusion in the ST category to the Centre.
Bhainsala, who is increasingly being seen as pro-government, remained unmoved by the revolt and ignored the 'decision' to remove him.