Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to announce Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Pahari community in Jammu and Kashmir during his three-day visit to the Union Territory. Mr Shah is due to arrive in Jammu later today. 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.
The possibility of granting ST status to the Paharis, however, has triggered a political row and dissension within the National Conference party, even as members of the Gujjar tribe held protests in Shopian today, asking the Centre not to fiddle with the ST status of the community.
In a surprise move, a senior National Conference leader and former MLA has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to join the Union Home Minister's rally. "Community comes first. Politics later. We all should join the rally and show our collective strength. If we don't achieve ST status today, we will never get it," said Kafeel ur Rehman, a two-time former National Conference MLA.
Mr Rehman told his supporters that 20 buses were kept ready for their travel to Baramulla where Mr Shah will address a rally on Wednesday.
Mushtaq Bukahri, another senior National Conference leader from Rajouri, and several others have already resigned from the party and openly supported the BJP on the issue of granting ST status to Paharis.
Tanvir Sadiq, the chief spokesperson of National Conference, said he was not aware of the statement by Mr Rehman. "It's certainly not the party position. I will check his statement and get back to you," he said.
Muzafar Baig, former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister, has also appealed to the Pahari community to join the rally in large numbers. Mr Baig, who is also a Pahari leader, had resigned from the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) in November 2020.
"We are hopeful that Shah sahib will fulfil this long-pending and just demand of the Pahari community. It will be a positive and historic decision. I appeal to everybody to attend the rally and demand justice," said Mr Baig in a video message.
The possibility of granting ST status to the Paharis has triggered considerable political vivalry and deepened the divide between Gujjars, Bakerwal tribals and Paharis in Jammu and Kashmir. Gujjars and Bakerwals already enjoy ST status. Now, the issue of recognition of Paharis as ST is being resented by these tribals.
Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister and PDP leader, has alleged that BJP is driving a wedge between the communities by using the reservations card. In a video message Ms Mufti appealed to the communities to stay united and not fight against each other.
"There is tension in Pirpanjal (Rajouri-Poonch districts) in the wake of the Home Minister's visit and likely announcement of ST status.
People are being forced to fight against each other. They are making you enemies of each other. First, they pitted Hindus against Muslims. Now, they want the Gujjars and Paharis to fight against each other," Ms Mufti cautioned.
If ST status is granted to the Pahari community, then it will be the first instance of a linguistic group earning reservations in India. For this to happen, the Central government needs to amend the Reservations Act in the Parliament.
Pahari leaders expect that once announced, a Bill can be passed in the next session of Parliament.
Granting ST status to Paharis is seen as a major political move by the BJP to win maximum seats in Jammu and Kashmir. In that sense, the Union Home Minister addressing two rallies in Jammu and Kashmir will effectively mark the beginning of the BJP's election campaign.
Jammu and Kashmir is without an elected government for more than four years now. Elections can be announced any time after completion of the revision of electoral rolls on November 25.
Ravinder Raina, the President of the BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit, said his party is ready for elections any time.
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