J&K: Scheduled Tribe status to Paharis enrages Gujjars, may challenge it in Supreme Court
Arjun Sharma
Jammu, February 7
A day after the Bill granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Pahari-speaking people and some other groups was passed in Lok Sabha, mobile internet services in Rajouri and Poonch were suspended as members of the Gujjar community expressed anger over the step of the Centre.
Leaders of Gujjar community said that they would go to the Supreme Court once the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill is passed by Rajya Sabha and challenge it.
Gujjars and Bakerwals, a tribal nomadic group which already enjoys ST status, had earlier asked the Centre not to go ahead with the Bill granting ST status to Paharis, Paddari tribe, Gadda Brahman and Koli community. The reason for the anger among Gujjars is that they believe that the Bill would dilute their quota under ST status.
Both Gujjars and Paharis have significant population in Rajouri and Poonch district and sensing trouble, mobile internet services were shut in these areas. The police also imposed restrictions on gathering of groups of people.
The Gujjar leaders expressed anger and said they would challenge the Bill once it is passed by Rajya Sabha for its “constitutional validity”. Anwar Choudhary, convener of All J&K Gujjar and Bakerwal Co-ordination Committee, said “The Bill once passed by Rajya Sabha will be analysed and if it dilutes the status of ST of Gujjars and Bakerwals, the community will go to Supreme Court and challenge it”.
“The police are not letting the activists of the community come out and even speak for Gujjars. A ban has been imposed on us,” said Choudhary.
Meanwhile in a message, the Poonch police stated that some provocative comments, statements and videos are being posted on social media platforms causing concern for law enforcement agencies.
“It is essential to remind citizens to exercise restraint and avoid engaging in such activities. Additionally, legal action shall be taken against those who persist in making such remarks or sharing provocative content,” the police stated.
The administration of Jammu district issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 and asked individuals and news platforms to avoid posting information which has the potential to disturb communal harmony and cause breach of peace.
Sensing the seriousness of the issue, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in a statement said that the Centre has ensured that the inclusion of new communities in ST list will have no impact on current level of reservations available to Gujjars, Bakerwals and other tribes.
“After the Bill is cleared in Rajya Sabha, the UT administration will issue necessary notifications ensuring that the people included in the existing list of ST continue to get the same level of reservation,” the L-G stated.
To douse the simmering anger among the Gujjar community, BJP chief of J&K, Ravinder Raina, said that the Bill would elevate the status of Paharis without disturbing the quota of Gujjars and Bakerwals.
