It is unfortunate that India still lacks a civilised society. Violent protests and agitations are the order of the day. The ongoing Gujjar protests over reservation are a grim reminder of growing violence in the country.
It is noteworthy that the former Rajasthan chief minister, Vasundhara Raje, had promised to grant the Gujjars the Scheduled Tribes status in the run-up to the 2003 state Assembly elections.
Although reservation is beneficial for some sections of the society, it has negative implications too. The state governments should analyse the pros and cons of reservation before implementing it.
The politicians should also learn a lesson from the Gujjar episode and desist from taking the people for a ride. It is the responsibility of the Rajasthan government to put an end to the protest without delay. If the state government is able to make a breakthrough in solving the Gujjar issue, it will definitely send a positive signal across the nation.
P Senthil Saravana Durai, Hyderabad
