Gujjars, Bakarwals, Paharis will be included in the ST list-Amit Shah

Amaravati: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Gujjars, Bakarwal and Pahari social groups will soon be included in the ST list, and reservations will be provided in education and jobs. Amit Shah started a massive rally in Rajouri as part of his three-day tour of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. In a public meeting, he said that if ST status is granted to the Paharis, they will be the first linguistically reserved group in the country, but for this to happen, the Center needs to amend the Reservation Act in the Parliament. Amit Shah clarified that the Justice Sharman Commission has recommended reservations for Gujjars, Bakarwals and Paharis and they will be implemented soon. He said that only after the repeal of Article 370, implementation of reservations will be possible. He asked whether it would be possible for tribals to get reservation if Article 370 and 35A were not removed. Now with their removal the tribals will get their rights. For 70 years Kashmir was ruled by only three families and democracy was restricted to their families. He said that after the BJP came to power at the Centre, they have increased the scholarships for students in Kashmir and established more than 100 new schools. He said that Rs 1 lakh crore was sanctioned for highways and all this was possible only after the abrogation of Article 370.