Jammu/Srinagar
A proposed move to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to certain communities, including Pahari-speaking people, in Jammu and Kashmir has widened the gap between the members belonging to the Gujjar-Bakerwal and Pahari communities.
Ever since the Narendra Modi government introduced the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, in the Lok Sabha on July 26, 2023, a large number of street protests have rocked the different corners of Jammu and Kashmir.
While the proposed Bill was opposed tooth and nail by the members belonging to the Gujjar-Bakerwal tribe, the Pahari community went into celebration mode on the day the legislation was introduced.
What does the Bill entail?
According to the Bill, the Paharis Ethnic Group, along with three other groups in Jammu and Kashmir viz., Paddari Tribe, Gadda Barahmin, and Koli Tribe, will be notified as Scheduled Tribes.
After the passage of the Bill, Gaddis, Sippis and Sheenas; Pahari Kabila, Paddari tribe, Gadda Brahman tribe, and Koli tribal community will be entitled to political reservation under ST category right from Panchayat to Assembly and Parliament.
According to rough estimates, more than 12 lakh Pahari community members are living in Jammu and Kashmir. The members of the Pahari community had pinned all their hopes and were waiting to see the passage of the Bill. On August 11 when the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die they were left disappointed.
Who are the Paharis?
Economically, Pahari Speaking People are poor. The majority of the youth population is staring at an uncertain future in the absence of job avenues. Their survival is dependent on agriculture and other allied activities such as cattle rearing. The Pahari community has been striving for Scheduled Tribe Status since 1975. Their struggle “intensified” only after the Scheduled Tribe status was conferred upon Gujjar-Bakerwals of the State in 1991.
Leaderless protests
To register their opposition, the members of the Gujjar-Bakerwal community decided to hit the streets with a clear warning to the ruling dispensation “not to play with fire” by giving Scheduled Tribe status to the Pahari community.
Interestingly, none of the prominent Gujjar-Bakerwal public representatives participated in the protests which were spontaneous and largely undertaken by the youngsters, students, and unemployed youth supported by the second and third-generation Gujjar leaders seeking to find a foothold in community politics.
The agitating members of the Gujjar-Bakerwal community under the banner of Gujjar Bakerwal Youth Welfare Conference J&K claimed, “Scheduled Tribe status is our constitutional right, and for the protection of the Constitution, we are ready to fight up to any extent. We will not tolerate the dilution of the Scheduled Tribe status of the real tribe”.
Why was the bill not passed?
Prominent Pahari community leader Syed Mushtaq Bukhari told The Indian Tribal, “After the introduction of the Bill in the Lok Sabha, the government could not pass it due to prolonged logjam in the Parliament and paucity of time. Now we have to wait for the winter session of the Parliament to see the passage of the bill. “
Asked whether the Union government developed cold feet after the protests rocked different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Bukhari clarified, “The Union government is not going to take a U-turn on this sensitive issue. They have tabled a Bill after a long-drawn exercise. The recommendations made by the Justice (Retd) GD Sharma Commission were the basis on which the bill was drafted and approved by the Union government.
“The Commission, in its report, recommended changing the nomenclature of Pahari Speaking People to the Pahari Ethnic group. Besides, the Commission recommended adding Gadda Brahmins, Kolis, Paddari, and Pahari Ethnic Groups to the ST list of J&K,” Bukhari said adding, “It is only a matter of time before the bill would be passed”.
Bukhari seemed optimistic but not before serving a warning, “I see no reason why it should not be passed. Till the time the bill is not passed, we won’t participate in the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. We will boycott the same”.
He also appealed to the members of the Gujjar-Bakerwal community not to create roadblocks. The Union Home Minister has already clarified that not even 1% of their reservation quota will be reduced while accommodating our demand, he said.
What preceded the tabling of the Bill?
Before the Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha, a meeting between prominent Pahari leaders and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha took place at Shah’s residence. During the meeting, the Union Home Minister gave an assurance to these representatives that the Bill is being introduced in the house to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the members belonging to the Pahari tribe.
The Union Home Minister had last year promised reservation to Paharis and assured the Gujjar-Bakerwal community that not even 1% of their quota will be reduced.
What is the apprehension of Gujjars-Bakerwals?
Despite clear-cut assurances, the Gujjar-Bakerwal is apprehensive that Paharis and others will be given reservations from their allotted 10 percent quota. The community asserts that Paharis are mostly well-off and upper caste Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs who are not a tribal group and do not need reservation benefits. ST status to Paharis will deal a lethal blow to the Gujjars and Bakerwals who will be further pushed to poverty. They claim that it will also make Gujjar identity vulnerable and open up institutions built over the years for Gujjars for non-tribals.
Is it true?
A senior Pahari leader from the Jammu region who attended the meeting with the Home Minister, told The Indian Tribal, “Ten percent reservation granted to Gujjars and Bakerwals in Government jobs and educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir will not be disturbed while Pahari tribe and others will get a separate reservation and both will be treated as Scheduled Tribe.”
In other words, all those who are already entitled to reservation under the ST category, including Gujjars-Bakerwals, Gaddis, Sippis, and Sheenas, will continue to get 10 percent reservation in educational institutions, jobs etc in Jammu and Kashmir while the Pahari tribe, Paddari tribe, Gadda tribal Brahmans and Koli tribal community will get a separate reservation.
“At the national level also, all groups will fall under the ST category,” the leader said, adding new castes will be inserted in the list of STs for the purpose of reservation in terms of jobs, educational institutions, and politics.
(Part 2 – Political Implications)
