Press Trust of India

Depressed classes in JK will get their rights: Amit Shah

Depressed classes in JK will get their rights: Amit Shah
Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page

Says Govt launched tough campaign against terrorists, separatists

Rajouri: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that after the removal of Articles 370 and 35A, Prime Minister Modi has given the depressed classes, Dalits, Tribals and Pahadis of Jammu & Kashmir their Rights.

For 70 years, three families ruled here and kept democracy confined to themselves, but, after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, the governance of Jammu and Kashmir has now reached 30,000 people’s representatives at the Panchayat level

Addressing a rally organised in this town, situated at the foothills of the Pir Panjal mountain range along the Indo-Pak border, Shah said that earlier, there was injustice with people from the hills of Jammu and Kashmir.

“They did not get Reservation, the Prime Minister cleared the way for Reservation by removing Article 370. After the administrative work related with the Justice Sharma Commission is completed Gurjars, Bakarwals and Paharis will receive the benefits of Reservation,” the Union Home Minister said.

In 72 years investment of Rs. 15,000 crore came into industry in Jammu and Kashmir, whereas from 2019 till present an investment of Rs. 56,000 crore has been made, he added.

“Narendra Modi has provided electricity for the first to more than 20,000 houses in the hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir. After Independence, for the first time in the true sense, there has been an increase in the number of seats in the hilly region of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a tough campaign against terrorists and separatists, as a result of which terrorist incidents have significantly reduced in Jammu and Kashmir.

“There were 4,766 terrorist incidents between 2006 and 2013 while after the abrogation of Article 370, terrorist incidents decreased from 4,766 to just 721 in 2019 to 2022, which shows that now Jammu and Kashmir is safe,” he said.

The Prime Minister has ensured that stones in the hands of the youth are replaced with laptops, employment has been provided, this is a very important change, the Union Home Minister added.

Shah also said there will be no decline in ST quota of Gujjars and Bakerwals and Paharis and everyone will get their share.

The home minister said some people have tried to instigate the Gujjars and Bakerwals in the name of ST status being given to Paharis but the people have foiled their design.

“There have been reports of protests by the Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu and Shopian in Kashmir recently against the move to grant ST status to the Paharis. The Gujjars and Bakerwals constitute 40 per cent of the population in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch,” he said.

Paharis also live in the same area but they are numerically small.

The Gujjars and Bakerwals are the third largest ethnic group in Jammu and Kashmir after Kashmiris and Dogras.

Since April 1991, they have enjoyed benefits of 10 per cent quota for STs in jobs and educational institutions.

The Paharis are also seeking same benefits, which was opposed by the Gujjar and Bakarwals.

Since January 2020, the Paharis have been getting 4 per cent quota benefits in jobs and educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir following a change of rules by the Union Territory administration.

This was also opposed by the Gujjars and Bakerwals, saying they get benefits under other categories such as OBC, EWS.

Coming down heavily on the Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said earlier just three political families used to rule the erstwhile state, but now power is with 30,000 people who were elected to panchayats and district councils through fair elections.

Referring to the possibility of holding assembly elections, he said delimitation exercise was carried out before holding the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Delimitation was necessary before polls as earlier delimitation was not as per norms. Now, the delimitation has been done as per norms and there is increase in no of seats in hilly areas like Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar,” he said.

Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised elections after abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

Modi had held local body polls and handed over the power to the 30,000 elected representatives of local bodies, he said.

Earlier power was with three families, 87 MLAs, 6 MPs. With abrogation of Article 35-A and 370, all downtrodden societies including Paharis in Jammu and Kashmir are getting or going to get their rights, he said.

The home minister said tribal reservation has become possible in Jammu and Kashmir only after abrogation of Article 35-A and 370.

He alleged that those who ruled Jammu and Kashmir for 70 years “wanted to keep Paharis crushed and pushed their voice. Now it is turn of Paharis to get their right in Jammu and Kashmir”.

Shah said the development of Jammu and Kashmir is Modi’s priority.

“Earlier, all money sent by the Centre for development was usurped by a few, but now everything is spent on people’s welfare,” he said.

“I want to appeal to you to free Jammu and Kashmir from the clutches of these three families and to make hands of Modi strong for betterment and welfare of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

Shah did not take names of the three families.

He also said security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is far better now than earlier due to the strong action taken against terrorists by the Modi government.

“As a result, the death toll of security forces has come down from 1,200 every year to 136 this year,” he said.

“Today’s rally is a befitting reply to those who used to say that there would be blood bath if Article 370 is abrogated,” he said.

“The decline in number of deaths of security forces shows that Jammu and Kashmir is in safe hands now,” he said, adding the Modi government has started strong drive against terrorism, stone pelters and Hurriyat conference

He also appreciated the Union territory administration’s decision to announce a holiday on the occasion the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh, the erstwhile rule of Jammu and Kashmir, who signed the instrument of accession.

The home minister said on the last day of Navratri he paid obeisance at Mata Vaishnoo Devi temple and and prayed for peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

Shah also praised the people living in Rajouri and Poonch who are “standing like rocks for security of India” and entire country salutes them.

“Paharis, Gujjars and Bakerwals always stood for country whenever there was risk on India. Mountains of Rajouri and Poonch are guardians of LoC of India,” he said.


Press Trust of India

Press Trust of India is lead news agency of India

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *