New Delhi: Less then a week after signing a truce with protesting Gurjars demanding classification as a scheduled tribe, Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhra Raje seeks a change of mindset over reservations
She says that it is not an important issue now as it was privatisation.
Raje who is under fire for her handling of the reservation protests that erupted into caste rioting last week insisted she had given no assurance to Gurgars before the state elections, that they would be classified as a Scheduled Tribe (ST).
"I never did vote-bank politics to mislead anybody. Then (before elections) I said I was new. We will listen to your (Gurjars') demand and see (what can be done). If I had to give an assurance, I would have stated it in the election manifesto. I did not say it anywhere in the manifesto," Outlook Hindi weekly quoted her as saying in an interview.
The chief minister, whose state was hit by weeklong violent clashes over her pre-election quota promise to Gurjars, said it was time to ponder afresh over reservations and the government's role in society.
"Today, the government's role has narrowed down. There is an increase in public partnership (with the government)," she remarked.
She also insisted that reservations had a greater importance when employment opportunities "solely" existed in government.
"It's not the case today therefore the rows over reservations are becoming untimely. We all need to understand it. We will have to change our mindset over the reservation issue," she said.
Raje also found the role of elected Gurjar and Meena leaders in the protests as constitutionally inappropriate.
"National interest is supreme in a democracy," she said.
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