Amit Shah announces reservation for Gujjars, Bakerwals, Paharis in J&K

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced that the Central Government will give reservation benefits to Gujjar, Bakerwal and Pahari communities in Jammu and Kashmir, in accordance with the recommendations of the Justice Sharma Commission which examined the issue of quota.

"After the abrogation of 370A, the process for reservation has been cleared. Justice Sharma's commission has sent the report and recommended reservation for Gujjar, Bakarwal and Pahari communities and it will be given soon," said Shah as quoted by ANI.

He also underlined that the reservation is only possible after the abrogation of article 370 and said," Would it have been possible to get tribal reservation if Articles 370 and 35A were not removed? With their removal now, minorities, Dalits, tribals and Paharis will get their rights."

The Union Home Minister also stressed that it was under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership that the valley saw its first panchayat elections.

"The government changed in the country, Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, then Modi ji first conducted Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, only three families had the rule, today all have come under the rule of Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

He also highlighted the change that the valley has undergone under the PM-led government and said," Earlier, news of stone pelting used to come from Jammu and Kashmir. Today there is no news of stone pelting. Modi ji has worked to empower the youth of Jammu and Kashmir."

Shah will further launch development projects and also lay foundation stones for various projects at Convention Centre in Jammu.

On the second day of his visit on Wednesday (October 5), Shah will review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir at a meeting that is slated to be held at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, top officials of the Army, paramilitary forces, state police and civil administration will take part in this high-level meeting expected to begin at 10 am.

Shah will later address a public meeting at Baramulla around 11.30 am and will address the gathering. Before concluding his visit to the Union Territory, Shah will also launch and lay foundation stones for various development projects in Srinagar around 3.30 pm.