Gujjars and Bakarwals Protest in Jammu-Kashmir: Protests by Gujjars and Bakarwals are gathering pace across J&K as the BJP-led central government is all set to introduce a bill in Parliament to provide reservation to Paharis, Gadda Brahmins, Kols and Valmikis under the Scheduled Tribe category.
Members of the Gujjars and Bakarwals, along with others, protested against the inclusion of upper caste Paharias in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list in Srinagar on Tuesday (July 25). The protesters are threatening to intensify the agitation and hit the streets with their cattle if the Center fails to withdraw the bill introduced in Parliament. He said, “Our struggle is to protect the rights of the people living not only in Jammu and Kashmir, but across the country.”
‘Intent is to pit one community against another’
A protester said, “The BJP’s move to include upper caste Pahari people is a serious provocation and anti-tribal and intended to pit one community against another.” Gujjars and Bakarwals held a torchlight protest in Jammu city on Sunday against the Centre’s move to introduce three separate bills. These bills include the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Once the Bill is passed, it will pave the way for the inclusion of Pahari, Gadda Brahmins and Kolis in the ST list in the Union Territory (UT). The Center also intends to include Valmikis in the list of Scheduled Castes. Tribals have accused the BJP of using ST status to non-tribals as a tactic to divert attention from its failures and gain electoral advantage in the Chenab Valley, which has the largest hill and non-tribal Gadi population.
protest march organized
Gujjars and Bakarwals have also got support from other reserved categories in Jammu to oppose this move. Activists of All Reserved Category Association recently organized a protest march at Jammu University (JU). In a joint letter to the President of India, the Gujjar and Pahari leaders sought his intervention. The Pahari-speaking peoples form a remarkably heterogeneous group. They are already enjoying differentiated treatment under the Constitution in the form of reservation under Articles 15 and 16.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah in October 2022 announced ST status for the Pahari community, which includes Hindus and Muslims, unlike the Bakarwals and Gujjars, who are all Muslims. After protests by these groups, Shah also held a meeting with top Gujjar leaders in November 2022. The bills are to be discussed and voted on during the current monsoon session and are likely to be passed in the Lok Sabha without any difficulty.
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