Centre washes its hands off Patel agitation, says solution must come from Gujarat

NEW DELHI: Social justice and empowerment minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot has said a solution to Gujarat's Patel agitation has to come from the state. The Centre has no role to play until the state government recommends the inclusion of the protesting community in the list of other backward castes, he said.

Washing his hands off the Hardik Patel-led agitation in Gujarat demanding a share in the OBC quota, Gehlot told ET in an exclusive interview that it is a state matter and the Centre cannot intervene.

"The issues that are coming are related to the states. Like you have mentioned, Patel agitation. In the list of OBCs, there are a lot of castes. In the Central list and also the state list…The agitation that is taking place in Gujarat is related to state jobs. It is not related to government of India ministries," Gehlot said.

He said if a community wants to be included in the central list, the state sends a representation, which is forwarded to the Registrar General of India. The RGI's view is communicated to the state. If the request is denied, it is not pursued by the Centre.

For inclusion in the Scheduled Castes list, the proposal is sent to the Scheduled Castes Commission with the RGI's views. This is followed by a Cabinet note and then legislation in Parliament.

"This is the process. So whenever we get demands from states, we consider them. As far as the states are concerned, we cannot intervene directly and we don't do it," Gehlot said.

When it was pointed out that Gujarat has a BJP-run government, Gehlot said, "The question is not that of the party. The question is the position or the condition of that community in that state. That is decided by the state government."

Until the state government demands it, the Centre is "not in a position to do anything," he said.