'I want to give reservation at any cost'

AN OFFICER'S WORD: Col Bainsla says he will restart agitation if he doesn't get reservation.

      

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Keywords: Vasundhara Raje, Gurjars

Kirori Singh Bainsla: Our case to be included into ST by recommended by Lokur Committee in 1965. Therefore it substantiates our case and I am quite hopeful that under the present conditions of the Gurjars, they shall be recommended.

Karan Thapar:You are absolutely right when you say that the Lokur Committee which met and sat in 1965 recommended the case. The problem is that since then, all the Presidents have gone against you. In 1981 Shiv Charan Mathur considered it and rejected it. The papers say that Ashok Gehlot considered it. And even in the last three years under Vasundhara Raje Scindia 23 of the 32 district collectors in Rajasthan have sent notices opposing ST status for the Gurjars. So all the Presidents are against you. Aren’t they?

Kirori Singh Bainsla: So far as the report of the collectors is considered, I out my foot down. It is not acceptable to us. Why it’s not is because – collector is one individual, he can be biased and collectors who are in the district which is not a Gurjar predominant area, will not hold good. Therefore I said we don’t accept collectors report. The other option was to set a committee, headed by a retired judge and two members and I am sure it will bear fruits.

Karan Thapar: When this committee headed by a judge investigates the matter, won’t it be relying on the same collectors for information and data.

Kirori Singh Bainsla: No. As I told you earlier, it can be biased also. How many are there in the bureaucracy that are against us.

Karan Thapar: So this committee will find out the truth of the situation in Rajasthan without going through the collectors. It will, in other words, investigate the matter independently of collectors.

Kirori Singh Bainsla: Of course.

Karan Thapar: You have a commitment from Vasundhara Raje?

Kirori Singh Bainsla: I do.

Karan Thapar: A commitment?

Kirori Singh Bainsla: Yes.