'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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Karan Thapar: Hello and welcome to Devil’s Advocate. How does Gurjar leader Colonel Kirori Singh Bainsla respond to the criticism that whilst he may have won the war against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia, perhaps he lost the peace. That’s one of the questions that I shall put to Col. Bainsla himself.

After your agreement with Vasundhara Raje, you said, “we got what we wanted”. But your critics say you signed under pressure. And newspapers say, “He was given a promise that would fail to persuade even a child.” Did you win the war, but lose the peace?

Kirori Singh Bainsla: Well I do not agree with this because what I wanted, I got it. And I will never compromise the interest of my community.

Karan Thapar: So you are 100 per cent satisfied with the agreement with Vasundhara Raje Scindia.

Kirori Singh Bainsla: Precisely so.

Karan Thapar: Let’s explore that. On May 31, when the agitation was at its height, you said: “The state government must send a formal recommendation to the Centre. Gurjars should be included in the ST category. Only then it is possible to consider withdrawing this agitation.” Yet you got no such letter. But you withdrew the agitation.

Kirori Singh Bainsla: When the discussions prolonged and progressed, we discussed so many aspects of it. There were three options for us–one was a simple letter of recommendation to be sent to the Centre, the second option that almost came into the talks was that the Chief Minister will go the Prime Minister and discuss this matter and third was to make a base and send the recommendation which will bring real good fruits subsequently.

Karan Thapar: And you chose in a sense the third option.

Kirori Singh Bainsla: Yes. I asked all my colleagues, applied my mind and this was the best option for us.

Karan Thapar: All your colleagues supported this option?

Kirori Singh Bainsla: Yes.

Karan Thapar: I’ll tell you the problem. What you have ended up with is a committee. But not a commitment. You have no control over what this committee will control, you have no way of ensuring it will support Schedule Tribe status for the Gurjars.