The Gujjjars again held a “maha-panchayat” in Karauli district to put the government on notice to get the Bill cleared or face long-drawn agitation.

Governor S.K. Singh has also apparently seen the political compulsion, and has reportedly assured the Gujjar leaders that he would append his signatures to the legislation before he moves out of the Raj Bhavan.

But there is a valid objection to the Bill passed when Vasundhara Raje was in power. It provided for a special five per cent job reservation for the Gujjars; but at the same time, it also provided an additional reservation of 14 per cent for the OBCs.

It is this aspect of the Bill which has rightly raised legal issues. While the State has the power to legislate for reservation for a special community (Gujjars), it is in the domain of Parliament to provide for such quota for the OBCs.

But BJP politics got mixed up with the law. The intention of the Raje Government was not sincere; it wanted to satisfy the Gujjars but at the same time, embarrass the UPA (or the Congress) at the Centre. The Bill would also require the assent of the President to become the law. It is this tangle which has got to be settled by the Gehlot Government.

Though there is no official word on how the issue will be resolved, it seems the Governor may send the Bill back to the assembly for reconsideration. The assembly would then amend the old Bill and eliminate the quota part for the OBCs; it would deal with only the reservation for Gujjars.

This is the formula, which perhaps has the consent of the Gujjar leaders. Based on this understanding, the matter will proceed, and the Gujjars may get what they have been agitating for, and the State would be spared another round of violent agitation. (IPA)