Jammu: Amit Shah declares linguistic discrimination; Paharis to receive ST status

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced to a crowd of people in this location on Tuesday that the Gujjar, Bakarwal, and Pahari communities would soon receive reservations to loud applause and chants.

"The reservation process has been simplified after 370A was repealed. The report from Justice Sharma's commission, which recommended reservations for the Gujjar, Bakarwal, and Pahari populations, has been sent and will be delivered soon "Shah stated.

In addition, he emphasised that the reservation could only be made following the repeal of Article 370, adding, "If Articles 370 and 35A hadn't been repealed, would a tribal reservation have been possible? Minorities, Dalits, tribal people, and Paharis will all receive their rights after they are gone."

"Three families dominated Jammu and Kashmir for 70 years, and only inside their own families democracy was established. Did you ever get the Gram Panchayat, Tehsil Panchayat, and Zilla Panchayat rights? The concept of democracy had been destroyed by three families, who had ruled Jamhooriyat for decades" Shah remarked.

He emphasised that the valley had its first panchayat elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"After Narendra Modi was elected prime minister in 2014, the country's governance underwent a transformation. Modi ji then held the nation's first Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Previously, just three families were in charge; currently, all are under Jammu and Kashmir's control" he added.

"Today is the last day of Navratri, after having darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi ji, I have come here seeking blessings for happy Kashmir," he added. At Jammu's Convention Center, the Home Minister will officially begin to lay the foundation stones of a number of projects and announce other development initiatives.