Gujjar, Bakarwal, Pahari communities to get reservations soon: HM Shah

Rajouri, Oct 04: Cheers and slogans echoed as Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a public gathering here on Tuesday and said that Gujjar, Bakarwal and Pahari communities will soon be given reservations.
Amit Shah said that the development of the Jammu and Kashmir region is a priority for Prime Minister Modi.
He said that earlier injustice was meted out to the Pahari people of Jammu and Kashmir, as they did not get any reservation.
“The Prime Minister cleared the way for reservation by removing Article 370.Justice Sharma’s commission was formed to consider reservation, which has sent its recommendations to give reservation to the Pahari, Bakarwal and Gurjar people.
“As soon as the administrative process of these recommendations is over, Gurjar, Bakarwal and Pahari people are going to get the benefits of reservation,” said Shah.
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.”
He also highlighted the change that the valley has undergone under the PM-led government.
He further underlined that the cheers during the rally served as a reply to the political factions who opposed the abrogation of Article 370.
“Today’s rally and your ‘Modi-Modi’ chants are answers to those who said if 370A is abrogated, there will be a bloodbath,” said Shah.
The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that earlier no one could have imagined a medical college in Rajouri. But, today by opening a medical college here, Prime Minister Modi has not only given an opportunity to the youth of this place to become doctors, but has also provided free healthcare to all the residents of this place, so that the people in the region would no longer have to go to Jammu for treatment. Along with this, medical colleges have also been opened in Kathua, Doda, Anantnag, Baramulla. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Government of India spent Rs. 139 crore for the medical college in Rajouri only. With an expenditure of Rs. 480 crore the work of construction of Rajouri, Dhannamandi and Surankot Road has also been furthered. Under the Border Area Development Execution Plan, the Prime Minister has allocated Rs. 21 crore and initiated 28 schemes. Under the Pradhan MantriGraminSadakYojana, 3,167 km of roads have been constructed. Prime Minister Modi has also allocated Rs. 1,337 crore for the four laning of the Jammu-Poonch highway.
He also sought blessings for a happy and peaceful Kashmir and said, “Today is the last day of Navratri, after having darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi ji, I have come here seeking the blessings of a happy Kashmir.”
The Home Minister 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. (Inputs from ANI)