SRINAGAR/SHIMLA: In a 'watershed first' in history of India, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajouri on Tuesday announced ST quota for Pahadi linguist communities, both Hindu and Muslims, along with Gujjars and Bakharwals of Jammu and Kashmir, kicking off a rally in the Union Territory, which is likely to go to polls in 2023”.
This announcement has come as a political blow for some opposing groups of Bakharwals and Gujjars, who are being patronized by what Amit Shah termed as “three Parivars of Jammu and Kashmir- Abdullahs, Muftis and Gandhis”, without naming them.
While Announcing the ST status for the Pahadi communities, Shah made a veiled attack against the “Teen Parivars” saying that the Modi government has taken out “power from Teen Parivars and handed it over to the elected 30, 000 representatives of Jammu and Kashmir in a democratic process”.
Shah said ST status to Pahadis, Gujjar and Bakarwals was possible only after the Modi government came to power at the Centre in 2014. Later it struck down Article 370 and 35 A, giving a new lease of life to these communities.
Shah said that now the minorities including Dalits, tribals , Pahadis, Bakralwals, Gujjars will get their rights under the new law”.
In fact, the Modi government has consciously hollowed out the political game plan of the Congress, National Conference and PDF. These parties ruled Jammu and Kashmir in what can be termed as “alliances of convenience with each other, including a stint with BJP for over the last 70 years".
BJP government has scored a major political point by proposing ST reservations for the Pahadis, one of the elite linguistic groups in Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi government abolished Article 370 and 35 A that provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir. It created new UT and smashed ultras, targeted and isolated “three families that ruled Jammu and Kashmir for over 70 years.
The Modi government shrewdly tried his best to paint Gupkar group as the "epitome of corruption and major villains of miseries and poverty in the trouble-torn Kashmir valley”.
Through the rule of Lt- governor, the Modi government launched some confidence building measures and restored power to the panchayats to strike chord with the villagers, by fanning out its “new agenda to win over locals”.
Prime Minister made Mushtaq Inqlabi as a Rajya Sabha MP, a first Gujjar leader to become so, that in turn, earned sympathy of the backward communities in the UT to some extent.
As per sources, population of the Pahadis is estimated to be six lakh, out of which over “55% are Hindus and the rest are Muslims”.
It is by this game plan that Modi has sought to gain support of both Hindus and Muslims in the UT by announcing ST reservation to the linguistic group for the first time in India.
On the other hand, Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar and Bakharwal welfare group has been opposing the ST reservation to what they termed as Elite groups of Jammu and Kashmir”.
They have launched campaign on social media opposing the ST status to the Pahadis. They fear that this reservation will dilute their ST status in job and other quotas.
The high caste Muslims and Hindus should not be given reservation as they have been exploiting the Gujjars and Bakharwal down the centuries as they are the ruling elites, said their leaders.
Incidentally, Gujjars and Bakharwals have been getting 10% ST quota ever since the formation of the Jammu and Kashmir state.
Allaying their fears, Shah however told the rally crowd that existing schedule tribes will not lose anything.
“Some people tried to instigate Gujjars and Bakharwal, but the people saw through their designs and they have accepted this proviso now”, he claimed.
Shah appealed to the crowds that it was possible due to the efforts put in by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5th 2019 when article 35A and 370 that had given autonomy to the Jammu and Kashmir, were hollowed out.
Shah said the Modi government took away power from three Parivars and handed over it to 30,000 elected representatives at the grass roots level in jammu and Kashmir thereby restoring Jamboorihat.
The process for demarcation of constituencies, finalization of the voter list is almost complete and the Election Commission of India has already completed the delimitation process.
Dr Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference, Mahbooba Mufti’s PDF and others outfits have been opposing the delimitation and formation new constituencies and ST reservation on the ground that the centre was dividing people of the UT.
They have been demanding restoration of the article 370 and 35A and status of a state for the Jammu and Kashmir.
However, in a veiled attack, Shah appealed to people of Jammu and Kashmir to free the UT from clutches of the three Parivars’ rule as the opponents have become powerless and stand exposed now.
Shaw said that the union government had already started the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir giving power and representation to over two 30,000 people who have been elected to the panchayats and councils in a true free fair polls.
Shah charged that the money which was sent for the development of Jammu and Kashmir was pocketed by a few people in power and their agents.
But now that money is being used for development of Jammu and Kashmir by L-G and his administration.
Shah claimed security situation in the UT is much better than it was earlier because the Modi government has taken a strong action against the terrorists, who are trying to make inroads into the valley from across the border.
On the other hand, Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister charged that the center’s move to give reservation to linguist groups aimed at dividing the communities.
Amit Shah also initiated 82 projects in tribal villages under PMAAGY.
Shah said L-G Manoj Sinha, Jitender Singh, union minister, MPs Jugal Kishore and Inqlabi are doing good service to people of the UT.
Shah pointed out that the opposition parties had said that there would be bloodshed and big fire in Pir Panjal if Article 370 was abolished.
“Nothing of that sort happened as people have seen through the design of these parties”, he asserted.
He said Pahadis, Gujjars and Bakharwals stood like a rock defending India from the invaders and saved their land and culture.
He said over 1.62 crore tourists had come to Jammu and Kashmir since January 2022 after the Covid restrictions were lifted, giving a big push to tourism in the UT.
