Home Minister Amit Shah announces quotas in Kashmir
He announced today in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, that the Pahari group, along with the Gujjars and Bakarwals, will soon receive Scheduled Tribe status for reservations in employment and education (ST).
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Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, announced today in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, that the Pahari group, along with the Gujjars and Bakarwals, will soon receive Scheduled Tribe status for reservations in employment and education (ST). If the Paharis are granted ST classification, it will be the first time in Indian history that a language group has received reservations.
For so, the Reservations Act will need to be amended by the national government in Parliament.
“The commission (set up by Lieutenant Governor) has sent the report and recommended reservation for Gujjar, Bakarwal and Pahari communities. It will be given soon,” Mr Shah said at a rally that marked the start of the BJP’s campaign for elections likely next year.
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He claimed such reservation became possible only after the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 was removed. “Now, minorities, Dalits, tribals, Paharis here will get their rights.”
He said “some people” tried to “instigate” Gujjars and Bakerwals over Paharis to get ST status, but “the people saw through their designs”.
On August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed Articles 35A and 370, two constitutional provisions that granted Jammu and Kashmir limited autonomy. He asked the masses to express their gratitude for the decision.
Ladakh was separated when the state was partitioned into two UTs, of which Jammu and Kashmir can have an elected assembly. As the process of demarcating constituencies and finalising voter registrations is almost complete, its inaugural elections are anticipated to take place early next year.
The Home Minister said, “I want to appeal to you to free Jammu and Kashmir from the clutches of three families that ruled here.” He did not mention the names of the families, but he was referring to the Muftis, Abdullahs and the Gandhis.
The last time Jammu and Kashmir had an elected administration was in 2018 when Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP served as the chief minister while the BJP was a junior partner. The NC was a former partner of the BJP at the Center.
