Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 3: Dispelling apprehensions of Gujjar and Bakerwal community about losing their share in reservations in the wake of a legislation brought in the Lok Sabha for conferring Scheduled Tribe status to Pahari communities of Jammu and Kashmir, Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana today said that after the assurance of Home Minister Amit Shah to the Gujjar Bakkerwal community that not an iota of their share of reservation in jobs and educational institutions will be touched, there should not be a shred of doubt in any body’s mind.
“While the Gujjar leadership is convinced about the intentions of the BJP government, some rejected political parties are sinisterly attempting to mislead the youth of the community”, Devender Rana said in an interaction with a high level deputation of Gujjar and Bakerwal Communities from various areas, who called on him here this afternoon.
Addressing the deputation, Rana lauded the central leadership for having designed the reservation for the Paharis acceding their long standing demand in such a pragmatic manner that while the Paharis get their due the Gujjar and Bakerwals do not lose even a bit of their share of reservation whether it is in the employment or it is in admissions to educational institutions. He said since no change in the reservation quota of the Gujjar & Bakkerwal community is happening due to the reservation being given to Paharis, the community should not get misled by elements who are stoking controversy where none exists just to make their political ends meet.
He cautioned the PDP and National Conference against misleading the communities and bringing them face to face for their vested interest. These parties have already caused a huge dent to the inclusiveness of Jammu and Kashmir by indulging in divisive and dubious politics over the years, as a consequence of which their base is reduced just to 2 or 3 per cent vote share. Their base is bound to further erode and their political castles are going to be grounded like Garondas of sand due to negative politics they believe in.
The Senior BJP leader exhorted the opinion leaders of the Gujjar and Bakkerwal Communities to see through the nefarious game plan of some disgruntled and dejected political actors, who have unleashed highly malicious disinformation campaign to mislead the youth, knowing well that the inclusion of Paharis in the reservation list is not at the cost of the Gujjar & Bakerwals.
Rana said the BJP is committed to welfare and progress of Gujjar and Bakerwals and referred to the proposal of allotting five marla plots to over 8000 families of landless Bakkerwals under the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna Rural.
Devender Rana assailed the PDP and the NC for behaving like ostrich by ignoring the overall transformation taking place across Jammu and Kashmir after the political developments of August 5, 2019. He asked them not to be colour blind over the path breaking achievements registered during the past four years.
Devender Rana said Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a new era of development and political empowerment to all, and not only to chosen few of a particular area. Jammu region is getting politically empowered irrespective of religion, caste or sub-region. This is something the people had been craving for over seven decades but for the so-called political elite class.
He said the Union Territory is progressing as per the vision of Prime Minister and his cherished agenda of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas, Sabka Vishwas. It is because of the single minded approach of the administration and the cooperation of the people that the Jammu City is going to emerge as one of five developed and clean cities of northern India, he added.
He said the governmental initiatives are bearing positive results, as the number of Below Poverty Line families in J&K has reduced from 25 to 15 per cent as per reports by a credible periodical of the country which is testimony of the economic alleviation of the state.
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