New Delhi Union Home Minister Amit Shah is going on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. During this visit, he is likely to announce Scheduled Tribe (SC) status to the Pahari Pahari people. He will address two rallies in Rajouri and Baramulla on Tuesday and Wednesday, which are expected to be attended by a large number of people from the Pahari community. In Jammu and Kashmir, Rajouri, Handwara, Poonch and Baramulla have a large population in the hilly areas. (Amit Shah on J&K tour)
According to media reports, the possibility of giving ST status to the hill people living in hilly areas has created political controversy and differences in the National Conference Party. On one hand, members of Gujjar tribe staged a sit-in in Shopian on Monday and demanded the Center not to play with the Scheduled Tribe status of the community, while on the other hand a senior National Conference leader and former MLA appealed to the people. Jammu and Kashmir to attend Union Home Minister’s rally
Twice National Conference MLA Kafeel ur Rehman said, ‘Community comes first, politics later’. We all should participate in the march and show our collective strength. If we don’t get ST status today, we will never get it. Fakil ur Rehman told his supporters that 20 buses have been kept ready to go to Baramulla, where Amit Shah will address a rally on Wednesday. Besides, another senior National Conference leader from Rajouri Mushtaq Bukhari and several others have already resigned from the party and supported the BJP on the issue of giving ST status to the hill people living in hilly areas.
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Muzaffar Baig has also appealed to the Pahari community to participate in this rally in large numbers. Baig, who is also a Pahari leader, resigned from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of Jammu and Kashmir in November 2020.
PDP made big allegation on BJP
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to pit the Pahari and Gujjars of Jammu region against each other. “There is a lot of tension in the Pir Panjal area for the last few days as there is talk of giving reservation to the Pahari community,” he said.
Mehbooba Mufti said that Gujjars and Paharis have been living together for centuries and they should stop fighting against each other. “I request Gujjars, Bakarwals and Pahari communities to stop fighting against each other. Everything is given by God. God will give them what they deserve. Home ministers will come and go, BJP is today, not tomorrow. What is creating enmity, rift (they will remain)… You are all one… and remain so.
