Raje puts quota ball in Centre's court

The Rajasthan government said the reservation should be done at the Central level and asked community members to "use their wisdom". Desert Storm

As the Gujjar agitation seeking ST status entered the sixth day, the Rajasthan government on Wednesday said the reservation should be done at the Central level and asked the community members to "use their wisdom".

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"Now the entire proceedings of reservation should be done at the Centre level. The Gujjar community should take their initiatives to the Centre and use their wisdom," Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said.

She also appealed to the Gujjars to stop violence, understand the reservation procedure and come forward to settle the issue through dialogue.

In a full-page advertisement issued in leading newspapers, Raje sought to remind the people that lakhs of people have been stranded at different places in the state due to the agitation.

Acting tough, the Rajasthan Government has clamped National Security Act (NSA) in 15 violence-hit districts as the agitation, which showed no signs of ending, spread to several parts of the state and threatened to spill over to the Nati

National Capital Region (NCR).

With the agitating Gujjars planning a "complete NCR roko" tomorrow, the Union Home Ministry put the region on high alert to prevent stalling of trains. As many as 38 people have been killed and scores injured in police firing and violence since Friday last.

While the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has referred the issue of reservation sought for Gujjars by Raje to the Law Ministry, the Congress dismissed her recommendation saying it was "immature" and legally untenable.