Jaipur
Rajasthan Assembly cleared a Bill that gives 5 per cent quota for five communities Gurjar, Raika, Gadariya, Rebari, and Banjara in government jobs and educational institutions after a debate that lasted roughly 1.5 hours.

The Bill, titled The Rajasthan Backward Classes Bill, 2019, amends the Other Backward Classes category to accommodate the five castes and six sub-castes and was spurred by renewed Gurjar protests that even turned violent.

The law raises OBC reservation from 21 per cent quota to 26 per cent by amending the Section 3 and 4 of the existing Bill, Rajasthan Energy and Public Works Minister BD Kalla, who was entrusted with the Bill, said as he tabled it in the assembly.

The statement of the objective and reasons for the Bill says the five castes were the most backward and required separate reservation in government jobs and educational institutes.The ruling Congress also asked opposition Bharatiya Janata Party to support the Bill to ensure it doesn’t face legal challenges.

The House also passed a resolution to raise existing creamy layer income of OBC beneficiaries from Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh in compliance with the central government’s EWS Bill.

The amendment Bill comes at a time when the Gurjars renewed their protest for reservation. The protests affected railway traffic and brought road transport to a standstill in several parts of the state.