Ahead of bill in Parl, Shah meets leaders of two groups
New castes to be included in ST list at national level
All entitled to political reservation at all levels including JK Assembly
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 25: Ten percent reservation granted to Gujjars and Bakerwals in Government jobs and educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir will not be disturbed while Pahari Kabila and others will get separate reservation and both will be treated as Scheduled Tribe (ST).
This assurance is reported to have been given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to two separate delegations of Paharis and Gujjar & Bakerwals who met him in New Delhi tonight in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and BJP national general secretary, Incharge Jammu and Kashmir Affairs, Tarun Chug.
The delegations comprised representatives of both groups from across Jammu and Kashmir and cutting across the party affiliations.
A bill to this effect is likely to be introduced in the Parliament anytime now, most likely tomorrow if the House functions.
Insiders in both the groups told the Excelsior on telephone after meeting the Union Home Minister that he called upon them to maintain brotherhood, harmony and work together for taking Jammu and Kashmir ahead in all spheres.
Insiders said Gujjars and Bakerwals, Gaddis, Sippis, Sheenas and all those who are already entitled to reservation under ST category, will continue to get 10 percent reservation in educational institutions, jobs etc in Jammu and Kashmir while Pahari Kabila, Paddari tribe, Gadda tribal Brahmans and Koli tribal community will get separate reservation, the percentage of which will be decided by both Centre and UT Governments in consultations with each other.
However, all of them will be treated as STs which will make them eligible for political reservation, they said.
“At national level also, all groups will fall under ST category,” they said, adding new castes will be inserted in the list of STs for the purpose of reservation in terms of jobs, educational institutions and political.
With this, the Government has fulfilled its commitment to Gujjars and Bakerwals that their 10 percent reservation in educational institutions and jobs will not be diluted.
Now, as per the insiders, besides Gujjars and Bakerwals, Gaddis, Sippis and Sheenas; Pahari Kabila, Paddari tribe, Gadda Brahman tribe and Koli tribal community will be entitled to 10 percent political reservation under ST category right from Panchayat to Assembly and Parliament.
In Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, nine seats i.e. 10 percent have been reserved for STs.
Regarding percentage of reservation in educational institutions and jobs for Pahari Kabila, Paddari tribe, Gadda Brahmans and Koli, the insiders said it is likely to be reflected in the bill to be introduced in the Parliament.
Prior to their meetings with the Home Minister, the Paharis and Gujjars and Bakerwals met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha separately in New Delhi and discussed the issue of reservation in detail. Both sides briefed Sinha on their issues and expectations from Centre as well as UT Governments.
The delegation of Paharis comprised 23 persons from across J&K and was led jointly by Muzaffar Hussain Beig and Vibodh Gupta while deputation of Gujjars and Bakerwals had 21 members from across the UT including former MPs, Ministers, MLAs, DDC Members etc.
As per the insiders, both the groups were satisfied after half an hour long each meeting with the Union Home Minister.
Commenting on the development, BJP UT president Ravinder Raina expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for fulfilling commitments made to Gujjars and Bakerwals that their share of reservation will not be diluted and assurance given to Paharis that they will get reservation and ST status.
“The slogan of `Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas and Sabka Vishwaas’ has been fulfilled in real terms,” Raina said describing the Central Government decision as “historic” which has removed the injustice meted out to Paharis for last 70 years.
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