PROTESTS IN RAJASTHAN TURN VIOLENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002564

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017
TAGS: PGOV CASC PHUM PREL PINR SCUL IN
SUBJECT: PROTESTS IN RAJASTHAN TURN VIOLENT


Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (B,D)


Summary
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1. (C) On May 28, caste tensions turned violent in the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)ruled state of Rajasthan.
Demanding to be socially demoted from the Other Backward
Caste (OBC) to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, the Gujjar
community staged protests and blocked national highways in
Rajasthan. This demotion would allow the Gujjars access to
reserved seats in government jobs and colleges. On May 29,
the protestors clashed violently with police, resulting in
over 14 dead and at least 100 injured. Post has issued a
warden message since Rajasthan is a major tourist destination
for U.S. citizens. Vasundhara Raje, the state's Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister (CM),is facing strong
criticism from all sides, with the Gujjars insisting that the
change in status was previously promised by the BJP.
Rajasthan goes to the polls in November 2008, and this
challenge to law and order is the last thing she needs,
especially since state police are being accused of heavy
handed behavior. Tensions are simmering and more violence is
likely. End Summary

Demanding Social Demotion
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2. (U) On May 28, an association claiming to represent the
Gujjar community of Rajasthan began setting up blockades on
national highways. The demonstrators declared they would not
relent until the Rajasthan government moves the Gujjars from
the Other Backward Caste (OBC) category to the Scheduled
Tribe (ST) category. The switch would qualify the Gujjars
for more affirmative action benefits than they currently
receive. On May 29, the approximately 30,000 demonstrators
attacked police attempting to remove the obstructions in the
road. The police lost control of the situation, as
protestors attacked them with stones, set buses ablaze, and
torched a police station. In retaliation, the police hit the
crowd with batons, lobbed teargas, and eventually opened
fire. By the afternoon, the central government had rushed
over 2000 paramilitary personnel to the scene, in an attempt
to restore order. On May 30, protestors burned two more
police stations. Press reports indicated at least 15 dead,
including several police officers and over 100 injured.


3. (U) Post has issued a warden message to American citizens
to avoid traveling by road in Rajasthan until further notice,
and to monitor the consular website for updates on the
security situation.

OBC versus ST
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4. (U) STs receive greater benefits and reservations in jobs
and education than OBCs. The constitution reserves
twenty-three percent of Parliamentary seats, government jobs,
and government supported school and college seats for STs and
Scheduled Castes (SCs). Each state is free to determine
whether it will establish quotas for OBCs; nothing is
nationally mandated.


5. (SBU) Each community of ST/SCs and OBCs is identified in
the Indian Constitution. To change the status of any Indian
caste or community, Parliament must amend the constitution.
A state does not have the authority to make such a change on
its own and can only submit a request and recommendation for
Parliament to consider.

He Said, She Said: Broken Promises
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6. (SBU) The Gujjars, who have traditionally supported
Congress, claim the BJP won their votes in 2003 by promising

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to change their status to ST. The ruling BJP retorted that
they made no such promises, but rather pledged to prepare a
report recommending the change to the GOI. The Committee
working on this report is expected to complete it by July 31.

Political Allegiances
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7. (C) In Rajasthan, the only community constitutionally
recognized as ST is the Meena community, who are
traditionally alligned with the BJP. The Meenas vehemently
oppose the Gujjars becoming ST because they would be required
to share reservations allotted to their community with
Gujjars. The BJP is caught between the conflicting demands
of the Meena, who constitute 12 percent of Rajasthan's
population, and the Gujjar, who are only seven percent.
Since the Meend are politically more powerful, the BJP is
more likely to accede to its demand and give the Gujjar the
cold shoulder.

Comment: A Political Nightmare
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8. (C) BJP Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje faces a tough
election when Rajasthan goes to the polls in November 2008.
There are only two significant political players in
Rajasthan, the BJP and Congress, and they usually take turns
ruling the state. Raje, who is widely acknowledged to be
both competent and popular, hoped to break this pattern and
win a second term for her government. Congress is strong and
well-organized in Rajasthan and the election would have been
a hard-fought contest, regardless. In such a highly-charged
political environment, with so much at stake, the current
violent confrontation could be harmful to Raje and her party.



9. (C) Congress politicians are not the only ones attacking
the heavy handed police action against the protestors.
Members of Raje's own party are demanding an investigation of
her management of the Gujjars. Further, on May 30, India-US
Forum of Parliamentarian Executive Director Ramesh Chandran
indicated to PolOff that police from the Meena community are
suspected to have fired the first shots at the protestors.
If this is confirmed, it would add more fuel to an already
burning fire. The situation remains tense with the Army
keeping a tight vigil. Post will continue to monitor the
situation in the state. End Comment.
MULFORD