The Rajputs from Uttar Pradesh are the recent to join the bandwagon of communities demanding reservation under the OBC section.
The Jats in Haryana were the first to create a stir demanding classification for benefits. Although their demands are still pending with the government, Rajputs in Uttar Pradesh are the next to protest demanding OBC status.
Members of the Bijnor-based Rawa Rajput Sewa Samiti raised their demand on Sunday and sought to be listed under the OBC quota. People belonging to the community from Bijnor and Mazaffarnagar have called for an agitation is their demand is not met.
Devendra Kumar, a member of Rawa Rajput Sewa Samiti who said that Rajputs account to only 7 per cent of Uttar Pradesh’s population and are extremely backward. According to them, reservation will help the community come to the forefront. They also threatened to organise protests in the state if goverment fails to pay heed to their demand. A delegation of members from the community will also meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
In a bid to bring down the protests by Jats demanding quota, the Haryana government held talks with the community leaders in Chandigarh. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Chief Minister ML Khattar and also briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the issue. However, the Jats have threatened to start protests again if their demands are not met on time. The government has suggested not to start agitation immediately if their demands are not met. Following stir in Harayna, Section 144 was imposed in Rohtak and Hisar districts.
