Questions on J&K, Eastern Ladakh to figure in Parl Monsoon session

Questions on J&K, Eastern Ladakh to figure in Parl Monsoon session

LS bulletin confirms listing of 3 UT bills

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 19: A number of questions pertaining to security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Sino-Indian standoff in Eastern Ladakh have been listed in Monsoon session of Parliament beginning tomorrow.
The questions are apart from three Reservation Bills pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir which are among 31 bills scheduled to be taken up in the session which will last till August 11.
The questions pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir include security scenario in the Union Territory, terror incidents, infiltration etc.
Questions on India and China standoff in Eastern Ladakh which has already completed three years have also been submitted by some of the Members of Parliament (MPs).
Some Opposition members are likely to ask for discussion on Eastern Ladakh situation.
Situation in Eastern Ladakh falling along Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China remained calm for past quite some time barring brief incident of erection of four tents by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at buffer zone in Chushul recently which were immediately removed on intervention of the Indian troops.
Disengagement of troops from more areas is likely to be discussed in next meeting of the Commanders of the two Armies.
Situation on anti-militancy and anti-infiltration fronts in Jammu and Kashmir has also improved further with the killing of many top militants including commanders of various outfits.
For the session, which concludes on August 11, the Government has lined up 31 bills, including three pertaining to Reservation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The bills include one seeking changes in the list of Scheduled Tribes for Jammu and Kashmir
Another bill on Jammu and Kashmir seeks to include the Valmiki community as a synonym of Chura, Bhangi, Valmiki and Mehtar in the list of Scheduled Castes of Jammu and Kashmir.
The third bill proposes to omit Other Social Castes (OSC) category from the list of reservation in J&K and replace it with Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Castes to be included in the list of OBCs and percentage is to be decided by the Government.
Lok Sabha bulletin released today has confirmed that three Jammu and Kashmir Reservation bills will be listed in Monsoon session of Parliament.
Excelsior had last week exclusively reported that three Reservation bills pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir have been listed in Monsoon session of the Parliament.
Whether these bills come up for discussion and passing in the Parliament will be seen as two of them had also been listed in budget session but couldn’t be listed due to uproar by both Government and treasury benches.
Presently, there is no reservation to OBCs. Only four percent reservation has been given under Other Social Castes (OSC) category.
Reservation to OBCs, which is 27 percent at national level as well as most of the States and Union Territories, will be given taking into account population of the communities which will be designated as OBCs, the officials said.
The bill pertaining to grant of Scheduled Tribe status to Pahari Kabila which was also due to be taken up in budget session will fulfil long pending demand of the Paharis for grant of ST status. Besides, Paddari tribe and Koli & Gadda Brahmins will also get ST status.
Based on recommendations of Justice GD Sharma Commission report, the Government had cleared Pahari Ethnic Tribe, Paddari Tribe and Koli & Gadda Brahman for accord of ST status. All concerned Ministries and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes have already cleared the proposal.
Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu and Kashmir already enjoyed ST status and the Government has clarified that their rights will not be diluted.
Paddari tribe is settled mostly in Paddar area of Kishtwar district which is one of the remotest areas in erstwhile Doda district. However, Koli & Gadda Brahmans are spread in different areas. Paharis are mostly based in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region and Baramulla and Kupwara in Kashmir division.