Amid Protests, Amit Shah May Announce A Quota For The Kashmir Pahari Community

During his three-day visit to the Union Territory, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to announce Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation for the Pahari people in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr. Shah is expected in Jammu later today. He will address two rallies in Rajouri and Baramulla on Tuesday and Wednesday, likely to draw many Pahari supporters.

However, the possibility of providing ST status to the Paharis has sparked a political dispute and discord inside the National Conference party, even as members of the Gujjar tribe protested in Shopian today, urging the Centre not to interfere with the community’s ST status.

In an unexpected move, a prominent National Conference politician and former MLA have urged Jammu and Kashmir residents to attend the Union Home Minister’s rally. “The community always comes first. Politics comes later. We should all join the rally and demonstrate our combined strength. We shall never attain ST status if we do not achieve it today, “Kafeel ur Rehman, a two-term National Conference MLA, agreed.

Mr. Rehman informed his supporters that 20 buses had been reserved for their trip to Baramulla, where Mr. Shah will speak at a rally on Wednesday.

Another senior National Conference leader from Rajouri, Mushtaq Bukahri, and numerous others have already resigned from the party and openly endorsed the BJP on the issue of granting Paharis ST status.

Tanvir Sadiq, the National Conference’s chief spokesperson, stated that he was unaware of Mr. Rehman’s statement. “That is not the position of the party. I’ll look into his statement and come back to you, “He stated.