JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government imposed restrictions on high-speed internet and assembly of four or more persons on Wednesday in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri after Gujjar-Bakerwal community began protests following parliamentary nod to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Pahari community in Jammu and Kashmir.
Former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, was prevented from visiting Sunderbani to address a party gathering.
On February 6, the parliament passed a bill aimed at granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Pahari community living in different parts of J&K. Before the passage of the bill, only Gujjar-Bakerwal community enjoyed ST status with nine percent reservation in government jobs.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while introducing the bill, assured that the grant of ST status to Paharis would not in any manner impact the reservations made for the Gujjar-Bakerwal community.
Gujjar-Bakerwals Oppose ST status to Paharis
Gujjar-Bakerwal community has been opposing grant of ST status to Paharis on the plea that such a step would reduce the reservation share of its tribal population and influence representation in elections after the declaration of nine ST assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.
They plead that Paharis are a well-settled and influential community across J&K.
Besides the Pahari community, parliamentary nod to the bill grants ST status to Paddari tribe, Kolis and Gadda Brahmins of J&K.
The Gujjar-Bakerwal form the third largest group in J&K after Dogras and Kashmiris. The Gujjars and Bakerwals are spread across Jammu and Kashmir but have a high concentration in Rajouri and Poonch districts. They were given ST status in 1991, along with two minority groups of Sippis and Gaddis.
According to the 2011 Census of India, the Gaddi population was 46,489 in Jammu Kashmir and the Sippis are roughly about 6,000. 95% of the Gaddis and Sippis are Hindus and spread across Udhampur, Kathua, Doda and Kishtwar districts.
This empowered these communities with 10 per cent reservation in educational institutes and government jobs.
In 2019, they were provided with 10 per cent quota in the Lok Sabha and the J&K Assembly as well. This was done to provide them representation politically as well. Centre’s proposed move to expand the ST list has triggered protest from the Gujjar-Bakerwal communities.
Impact on Political representation
The inclusion of the Paddaris and the Paharis in the ST list is based on the argument that neither of them constitute a single ethic group, but are a mix of individuals from different castes and religions who speak a particular language.
The Gujjars and Bakerwals argue that this would change the electoral dynamics in Rajouri and Poonch. Paharis are in the majority in Kalakote, Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri, Thanamandi, Surankote, Poonch-Haveli and Surankot-Mendhar. The latter five have been declared ST seats in the Delimitation Commission 2022.
Darhal is the lone seat in these twin border districts where Paharis are in the minority and Gujjar-Bakarwals are in the majority.
The BJP hopes to carve out stronger Hindu majority in these constituencies by dividing people on both ethnic and religious lines.
Similarly, the grant of ST reservation to Paddaris will benefit the BJP in Kishtwar district, where a predominantly Hindu-majority seat of Padder-Nagseni was carved out in the delimitation exercise.
Linguistic Groups
Both the Paharis and Paddaris are listed as linguistic groups in the 2011 census.
The Paddaris live in the hilly remote area of Kishtwar district. As per the 2011 census, Paddari population is around 21,548 – 83.6 per cent Hindus, 9.5 per cent Buddhists, and 6.8 per cent Muslims. The people of this area speak the Paddari language.
The Paharis speaking population denotes the Pothwari and Hindko speaking people, including Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, from Rajouri and Poonch as well as the Pakistan Occupied refugees. Some linguistic communities from Bhaderwah and Doda, speaking different Pahari dialects are also listed as ‘Pahari speaking’.
J&K Socially Economically Backward Classes Commission constituted in 2020 in its report has recommended to rename the group ‘Pahari Speaking People’ (who speak Pothwari dialects) with the substitute nomenclature ‘Pahari Ethnic Group’ in terms of provisions that grant Reservation to them, as PSP, under J&K Reservation Rules 2004 and accordingly, the J&K government issued instructions on October 19, 2022 and replaced ‘Pahari Speaking People’ with ‘Pahari Ethnic Group’.
This formed the basis of including them in the Scheduled Tribe list.
Earlier in 2014, the Omar Abdullah government had brought a Bill proposing a 5% quota for Paharis, but Governor N N Vohra refused his assent to the Bill on grounds that the Paharis were linguistic group and not an ethnic group.
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Jammu Division: Mother-tongue of population, according to the 2011 Census.
Dogri (46.59%)
Pahari (13.23%)
Gojri (13.07%)
Kashmiri (11.07%)
Others (5.45%)
Hindi (3.46%)
Punjabi (3.12%)
Bhadrawahi (1.83%)
Siraji (1.44%)
Urdu (0.18%)
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Protests and internet shutdown
Mobile internet services are suspended, and internet speeds are reduced to maintain law and order. Guftar Ahmed, a local social activist in a post on ‘X’ and Facebook said: “Internet services snapped in Rajouri and Poonch. Why to snap Internet, why to put restrictions if you think your decision is right. By diluting ST status BJP have crushed Gujjar Bakarwal Community of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Another post by Tribal Bachao March 2.0 on Facebook said that “Gujjar Bakerwal Students Alliance (GBSA) organised a protest and addressed media outside Jammu University against the dilution of Schedule Tribe Status of Gujjar Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The handle also posted a video of the protest and said, “Jammu: Gujjar Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir are on roads for the last two years protesting against the inclusion of Upper Castes in the Schedule Tribe list. GBSA team along with number students organised a protest against the inclusion of Upper Castes in ST list and demanded immediate roll back of the bill from the Lok Sabha. Students requested government of India to not dilute the status and identity of indigenous tribes of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The post added, “They also requested government to allow the students, activists and community members to protest peacefully under the ambit of Indian Constitution and there should be no restrictions on their movement. They opposed the anti-tribal stance of the Government of India and said that if the government passes this draconian anti tribal bill in Parliament, we will never sit idle and will intensify protests across the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Another post by an activist, Tazeem Choudhary, on behalf of Tribal Students Association Kashmir, said, “This indicate(s) the clear cut message to Central government that we the tribals of Jammu and Kashmir do not want the dilution of ST status at any cost….”
It also posted a video of the protest on its handle on Facebook and said, “Tribal students Association Kashmir Unit Tral conducted a peaceful protest despite the heavy snow reflects their commitment to safeguarding their future and advocating for their rights. It’s inspiring to see their dedication to expressing their concerns about the JK ST Amendment Bill 2024.Students are on the road in heavy snow to safeguard their Future.”
Omar Prevented from Rajouri Visit
National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that the police locked the gates of his house in Jammu and escorted him to his office, treating him like a “criminal”, to prevent him from visiting the Kalakote-Sunderbani area of Rajouri district for a party function.
Later, National Conference Vice President addressed the gathering in Sunderbani and Kalakote via telephone and chaired the meeting, a party statement circulated among the local news gathering news agencies said.
In his brief telephonic address, Omar said that NC has always upheld brotherhood and unity in the region contrary to BJP which has always sought to divide people on religious, regional and linguistic lines.
“We would continue to strive for peace, development and prosperity. No matter how hard BJP tries, we will continue with our humble efforts to bridge divides, forge unity and work for progress,” he said.
He further added, “They claim India to be the mother of democracy. If it’s so then why aren’t we allowed to step out from our residences and interact with people. I welcome the grant of ST status to Paharis, but this should not affect the rights of Gujjars and Bakarwals. The government is silent on this issue. Even the bill passed in Parliament does not mention how it would be implemented. Our repeated requests to the government as to how they will implement the reservation, remains unanswered.”
A post on official handle of the party, @JKNC_ on X said, “Despite the massive turnout in Kalakote-Sunderbani, Jammu, eagerly awaiting JKNC VP @OmarAbdullah‘s speech, the BJP government undemocratically locked his gate. Organized by Thakur Yashu Vardhan Singh, Addl Spokesperson, & Thakur Romeshwar Singh, the event saw many senior Party functionaries in attendance. Such gatherings debunk the media narrative labeling JKNC as ‘valley-based,’ showcasing its widespread strength and popularity across all regions.”
Despite the massive turnout in Kalakote-Sunderbani, Jammu, eagerly awaiting JKNC VP
@OmarAbdullah‘s speech, the BJP government undemocratically locked his gate. Organized by Thakur Yashu Vardhan Singh, Addl Spokesperson, & Thakur Romeshwar Singh, the event saw many senior Party functionaries in attendance. Such gatherings debunk the media narrative labeling JKNC as ‘valley-based,’ showcasing its widespread strength and popularity across all regions.
The convention was addressed by party’s Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta, Senior leader Javed Rana, YNC Provincial President Ajaz Jan, DDC Chairperson Naseem Liaqat and Constituency in-charge Yashu Vardhan Singh.
The leaders in their address denounced the administration’s measure of stopping Omar Abdullah and said there is no democracy in J&K as they are not being allowed to speak or express their views. They said that all development works initiated by the NC-led government remain halted. The leaders expressed concern over government action of forcibly encroaching on land from poor people. They demanded that the Forest Act should be implemented in JK.
Later in a post on X Omar wrote: “This was the very successful & peaceful public meeting that the BJP conspired to stop me from attending. They used the police to prevent me from traveling to Sunderbani. The BJP can run but it can’t hide from reality. The truth is they don’t have the guts to face the people & are finding excuses to delay assembly elections in J&K. They are the true murderers of democracy.”
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