PM refers Gujjars' ST demand to Law Ministry

The move comes a day after Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje wrote to the PM recommending 4-6 pc reservation for Gujjars.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday referred to the law ministry the Gujjar community's demand to be included in the Scheduled Tribes category.

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Asked if the Prime Minister's Office had sought the law ministry's opinion on the Gujjar demand, a senior law ministry official told IANS, “This is the natural course.”

He said the ministry would examine the legality of the demand.

The move comes a day after Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje wrote to the prime minister recommending four to six per cent reservation for Gujjars in the category of denotified class of nomadic tribes.

The central government should frame a policy on the issue, Raje said in the letter. "The issue was sensitive and the UPA government should take a decision on according Scheduled Tribe status to Gujjars."

The Gujjars in Rajasthan have launched a violent agitation to demand they be given Scheduled Tribe status that will give them access to government benefits in education and jobs. At least 37 people have been killed, mostly in police firing, since the agitation began on Friday.