Date:31/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/31/stories/2008053160621000.htm

National

Home Ministry reviews situation

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Gujjar agitation came up for discussion at a meeting convened by the Union Home Ministry on Friday. Home Minister Shivraj Patil chaired the meeting and elicited the views of the Law Ministry. Various options to defuse the situation were discussed.

Mr. Patil was briefed by a senior official of the Law Ministry. National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan, Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar and Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta were present, official sources said. A senior official of the Tribal Affairs Ministry also briefed the Minister.

The sources said the views of States having sizeable Gujjar population were being sought, as any decision on according ST status to the community was likely to have wide ramifications.

Ms. Raje’s letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, recommending 4 to 6 per cent quota for Gujjars in the category of de-notified class of tribals/nomadic tribe was also under consideration, the sources said.