House gives nod to reservation to OBCs in Local Bodies
Inclusion of Valmikis in SC category too approved
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 9: Decks were today cleared for grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Pahari Ethnic and three other tribes with Rajya Sabha giving nod to the bill moved by Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda. The Upper House also approved two other bills pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir including grant of reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Panchayats and Municipalities and inclusion of Valmikis in the SC list which were moved by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar respectively.
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The bills were passed after nearly three hours long debate in which several Opposition members demanded conduct of Assembly elections and restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP MPs, however, hailed abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A by Narendra Modi Government leading to complete integration of J&K with rest of the country saying it was because of abrogation of special status that deprived people are getting their rights now.
After assent to be given by the President of India Droupadi Murmu to the bills, they will become laws and the reservations will come into effect.
One of the bills grants ST status to Pahari Ethnic Tribe, Paddari tribe, Koli and Gadda Brahmins which will enable them to reservations in Government jobs, educational institutions and political reservations. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as UT Government have already made it clear that these tribes will be treated as separate group for reservations and the quota being enjoyed by existing tribes like Gujjars and Bakerwals will not be diluted at all.
Second bill extends reservations to OBCs in Panchayats and Municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir. The Government had delayed these two local elections which were scheduled to be held in October-November last year to grant reservations to the OBCs. The OBCs will also get reservations in the posts of District Development Council (DDC) and Block Development Council (BDC) chairpersons.
Third bill pertained to inclusion of Valmiki community as a synonym of Chura, Bhangi, and Mehtar communities in list of Scheduled Castes in J&K.
The Lok Sabha has already approved the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, earlier this week.
The three bills were taken simultaneously for discussion and passage in the Upper House.
Replying to the discussion on the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which granted ST status to Pahari Ethnic Tribe, Paddari tribe, Koli and Gadda Brahmins, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda said the bill seeks to give justice to the communities who were demanding ST status for long.
“The scrapping of Article 370 has allowed us to bring these laws,” he noted.
Replying to the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the Government has taken several steps for the welfare of the OBCs in the Union Territory and this amendment is another step in that direction.
There are three main amendments to the bill. Firstly, the bill ensures reservation for OBCs in Panchayats and Municipal bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. Secondly, the State Election Commission will be in-charge of conducting elections to Panchayats and Municipalities, he said.
Thirdly, the removal process of State Election Commissioner will be according to the Constitutional provisions and can only be removed under circumstances similar to those of a Judge of a High Court, Rai added.
He also listed out the development works undertaken after removal of Article 370 in the Union Territory and said Jammu & Kashmir is now peaceful and on the path of development.
Rai said incidents of terrorist activities and stone pelting have come down.
Replying to the discussion on the The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar said the communities will get the benefits of so many schemes with the passing of the bills.
“We do not do vote bank politics but try to strengthen the weaker section of the society,” he stated.
Participating in debate on three bills, a number of MPs from different Opposition parties demanded that Assembly elections should be held in Jammu and Kashmir and Statehood should be restored at the earliest.
Neeraj Dangi (Congress) said there was “bureaucratic rule” in Jammu and Kashmir and the Assembly elections should be held there at the earliest.
“If all is well in Jammu and Kashmir as stated by the Government, then why there is still violence in the Valley and citizens are not safe”? Dangi asked.
Aditya Prasad (BJP) said Jammu and Kashmir was deprived of development earlier. However, he added, following abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India that granted special status to erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, there has been massive development there.
Dr John Brittas (CPM) demanded restoration of Statehood not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in Ladakh also.
“Now, Ladakh has also been demanding Statehood. Their position was better with Jammu and Kashmir than now,” Brittas said.
Dr Sasmit Patra (BJD) said he and his party fully support the three bills.
“Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed lot of change and transformations. Good era has returned to Kashmir,” Patra added.
Dr Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party) said his party supports the bills which are aimed at giving rights to deprived sections of the society. He recalled that his party had supported abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India and voted in favour of the bill then.
Dr Kalpana Saini (BJP) said the credit for complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with rest of India goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah who abrogated Articles 370 and 35-A.
R Girirajan (DMK) wanted to know how much Army and other defence personnel have been deployed in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rajmani Patel (Congress) said the Assembly elections should have been held in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Government isn’t serious towards Other Backward Classes,” Patel said and demanded conduct of caste census.
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