Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured Paharis, Gujjar, and Bakerwals that 10 percent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions will stay.
He also assured that Paharis and others will get separate reservation and they will be treated as Scheduled Tribe (ST).
Shah was speaking to two separate delegations of Paharis and Gujjar & Bakerwals who called on him in New Delhi. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and BJP national general secretary, Incharge Jammu and Kashmir Affairs, Tarun Chug were also present in the meeting.
A bill in this regard will be introduced in the Parliament in this session.
Union Home Minister called upon the group to maintain brotherhood, and harmony and work together for taking Jammu and Kashmir ahead in all spheres, sources said.
Gujjars and Bakerwals, Gaddis, Sippis, Sheenas, and all those who are already entitled to reservation under the ST category, will continue to get 10 percent reservation in educational institutions, jobs, etc.
Pahari Kabila, Paddari tribe, Gadda tribal Brahmans, and Koli tribal community will get separate reservation.
At the national level, all groups will fall under the ST category. New castes will be inserted in the list of STs for the purpose of reservation in jobs, educational institutions, and politics.
Sources said 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 the ST category right from Panchayat to Assembly and Parliament.
Earlier, Paharis, Gujjars, and Bakerwals met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha separately in New Delhi and discussed reservation issue in detail. Both sides briefed Sinha on their issues and expectations from the Centre as well as UT Governments.
The delegation of Paharis was led jointly by Muzaffar Hussain Beig and Vibodh Gupta. The deputation of Gujjars and Bakerwals comprised former MPs, Ministers, MLAs, DDC Members, etc.
As per the insiders, both groups were satisfied after half an hour-long meeting with the Union Home Minister.
BJP UT president Ravinder Raina thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for fulfilling commitments made to Gujjars and Bakerwals that their share of the reservation will not be diluted and assurance is 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.
