Amit Shah Promises ST Reservation Benefits to Paharis in J&K, First Linguistic-Based Quota

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: With an eye on the elections in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir likely to be held next year, the union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced the much anticipated reservation for the Paharis under the scheduled tribes category while assuring the Gujjars and Bakerwal communities that their benefits would not be diluted.

The Gujjars, who already have reservation under the ST category, had apprehensions that granting of the ST status to the Paharis would dilute their quota. “Believe me, there will be no effect on the reservation of Gujjars even by one per cent,” Shah said.

Shah made the announcement at a rally in Rajouri as part of his three-day visit to the newly-created union territory. Thousands of Pahari-speaking people were eagerly waiting for the rally as they anticipated that Shah would announce reservation for them under the ST category. “The Justice GD Sharma (retd) Commission has recommended reservation for Paharis in the report submitted to the government. Reservation will be rolled out after completion of administrative formalities,” Shah said.

The reservation for Paharis, a pre-election promise aimed at widening the BJP’s support base, if implemented, would be the first linguistic-based quota in India requiring amendments in the reservation acts by Parliament. He said there were political parties that never wanted the Paharis to get their rights. “There are political leaders who want to suppress the rights of the Paharis. Now is the time that Paharis get their rights,” he said.

Stressing that abrogation of Article 370 had made reservation benefits possible, Shah said “After the abrogation of 370, the process for reservation has been cleared. Justice Sharma’s commission (set up by Lieutenant Governor) has sent the report and recommended reservation for Gujjar, Bakarwal and Pahari communities and it will be given soon,” said Shah. He said with the removal of Article 370 and 35A, Dalits, Paharis, minorities and tribals will all get their rights.

“Would it have been possible to get tribal reservation if Articles 370 and 35A were not removed?” he asked the crowd. Hitting out at the detractors, he said today’s rally and your ‘Modi-Modi’ chants are answers to those who said if 370 will be abrogated, there will be a blood bath.

“Today’s rally in Jammu and Kashmir, slogans of ‘Modi, Modi’, all of these are answers for those who used to say that if Article 370 is removed, there will be a fire in Jammu and Kashmir, rivers of blood will flow,” said Shah.

Calling out the Opposition, he said three families removed the meaning of democracy for generations. “For 70 years, Jammu and Kashmir was ruled by three families, democracy was built only within their families. Did all of you ever get the right of Gram Panchayat, Tehsil Panchayat, and Zilla Panchayat? Three families had removed the meaning of democracy, Jamhooriyat only to rule for generations,” said Shah.

He also stressed that it was under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership that the valley saw its first panchayat elections. “The government changed the country, Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, then Modi ji first conducted Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, only three families had the rule, today all have come under the rule of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

He also highlighted the change that the valley has undergone under the PM-led government and said,” Earlier, news of stone pelting used to come from Jammu and Kashmir. Today there is no news of stone pelting. Modi ji has worked to empower the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Shah also said from Independence until 2019, investments worth Rs 15,000 crore had been done. He added, “In these three years from 2019 till now, industrial investment of Rs 56,000 crore has come in the whole of Jammu and Kashmir.”

The BJP had promised the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Paharis, a long-pending demand of the community mostly residing in Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region and Baramulla in north Kashmir. However, Gujjars and Bakerwals have expressed resentment over the proposed inclusion of Paharis in the ST category.

While there was massive enthusiasm among the Paharis in anticipation of a major announcement from the home minister but at the same time, the Gujjars and the Bakerwals, apprehending dilution of the ST status, have come out to express their resentment against the proposed move.

Population of Paharis in the UT is estimated to be around 6 lakh, of whom 55 per cent are Hindus and the rest Muslim. But the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities — who have 10 per cent ST quota already — have been resenting tribal status to Paharis, saying that Muslims and Hindus from privileged classes should not get quota on the basis of language alone.

Earlier in the day, the Home Minister started his J&K visit by offering prayers at Vaishno Devi temple. The Home Minister will further launch development projects and also lay foundation stones for various projects at Convention Centre in Jammu.

On the second day of his visit on Wednesday (5 October), Shah will review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir at a meeting that is slated to be held at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, top officials of the Army, paramilitary forces, state police and civil administration will take part in this high-level meeting. Shah will later address a public meeting at Baramulla.

Mehbooba Mufti has said the BJP’s claims belie facts on the ground. “It is just dividing communities by using reservation,” she has alleged.