Vasundhara Raje, the Rajasthan chief minister, has markedly softened her approach in dealing with the Gujjar community’s agitation for Scheduled Tribe status. To pacify the protesting Gujjars, the Rajasthan chief minister is now adhering to novel means such as distribution of pamphlets, SMSes to the public and publication of full page advertisements in dailies. Gujjars, on the other hand, have responded by calling her endeavor a political gimmick. Only a few days ago, it was a very different Raje one saw tackling the Gujjar agitation that has now spilled beyond the boundaries of Rajasthan.

 

‘If the agitators break the law and cause problems in the state, we won't spare them. And nobody will be harsher than us,’ Vasundhara Raje had threatened. But despite the army moving into the state and phones being jammed in the Gujjar dominated zones, the community refused to budge. Now all eyes are on the Rajasthan CM, who is now being slighted by even her own party members for the handling of the Gujjar problem. Her critics state that her promise to look into the Gujjar grievances earlier has now become a fishbone for her party.

 

Former Deputy CM of Rajasthan and senior BJP leader, Harishankar Bhabra said that he had not mentioned at all about the Gujjar reservations when writing the BJP’s manifesto. He added that Raje had denied making any promise on the said issue. He then said that his biggest objection is that why did she not issue a strong and public denial about these allegations. Many state the pacifying the Gujjars will be the most difficult test for Raje’s political career.