JAMMU AUGUST 03-Dispelling apprehensions of Gujjar and Bakerwal community about losing their share in reservations in the wake of a legislation brought in the Lok Sabha for conferring Scheduled Tribe status to Pahari communities of Jammu and Kashmir, Senior BJP leader Mr Devender Singh Rana today said that after the assurance of Home Minister Mr Amit Shah to the Gujjar Bakerwal community that not an iota of their share of reservation in jobs and educational institutions will be touched, there should not be a shred of doubt in any body’s mind.
“While the Gujjar leadership is convinced about the intentions of the BJP government, some rejected political parties are sinisterly attempting to mislead the youth of the community”, Mr Devender Rana said in an interaction with a high level deputation of Gujjar and Bakerwal Communities from various areas.
Addressing the deputation, Mr. Rana lauded the central leadership for having designed the reservation for the Paharis acceding their long standing demand in such a pragmatic manner that while the Paharis get their due the Gujjar and Bakerwals do not lose even a bit of their share of reservation whether it is in the employment or it is in admissions to educational institutions. He said since no change in the reservation quota of the Gujjar & Bakerwal community is happening due to the reservation being given to Paharis, the community should not get misled by elements who are stoking controversy where none exists just to make their political ends meet.
Mr. Rana said BJP believes in equitably empowering all in J&K irrespective of caste creed religion, language and region and creating an inclusive J&K in which all get their due share and none is deprived of his share.
He cautioned the PDP and National Conference against misleading the communities and bringing them face to face for their vested interest. These parties have already caused a huge dent to the inclusiveness of Jammu and Kashmir by indulging in divisive and dubious politics over the years, as a consequence of which their base is reduced just to 2 or 3 per cent vote share. Their base is bound to further erode and their political castles are going to be grounded like Garondas of sand due to negative politics they believe in. He said the public standing of these parties will get exposed whenever elections are held. He wished good sense to prevail upon the PDP and the NC so that the traditions of amity and brotherhood remain intact in this part of the country.
The Senior BJP leader exhorted the opinion leaders of the Gujjar and Bakerwal Communities to see through the nefarious game plan of some disgruntled and dejected political actors, who have unleashed highly malicious disinformation campaign to mislead the youth, knowing well that the inclusion of Paharis in the reservation list is not at the cost of the Gujjar & Bakerwals. He referred to the assurances held out by the Home Minister during his visit to Jammu and Rajouri a few months back, assuring that the interests of Gujjars and Bakerwals are not going to be affected in any way and they will continue to get their share in jobs and admissions in professional institutions. The Gujjar leaders too stand convinced after their successive meetings with the Union Home Minister on the issue, he said, and hailed the bill brought in the Lok Sabha after giving a due thought by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, keeping in view the aspirations of the marginalized segments.
Mr Rana said the BJP is committed to welfare and progress of Gujjar and Bakerwals and referred to the proposal of allotting five marla plots to over 8000 families of landless Bakerwals under the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna Rural.
Mr Devender Rana assailed the PDP and the NC for behaving like ostrich by ignoring the overall transformation taking place across Jammu and Kashmir after the political developments of August 5, 2019. He asked them not to be colour blind over the path breaking achievements registered during the past four years. Peace and normalcy has paved the way for huge infrastructural developments, especially after the massive infra interventions. Stone pelting has become a nightmare of yesteryears while the shut-down culture has been taken over the humming economic activities. He referred to the unprecedented record tourist influx last year which is expected to cross two lakh mark this year and said that the Muharram procession took place on the traditional route in Srinagar after 34 years with Lieutenant Governor Mr Manoj Sinha joining it in the downtown areas of the City. Similarly, he said Shri Amarnathji Yatra has surpassed last year’s numbers in less than a month of the 2 month pilgrimage in the Kashmir Himalayas. The tourist and Yatri influx has given a huge economic fillip in both the regions of the Union Territory, he added.
Mr Devender Rana said Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a new era of development and political empowerment to all, and not only to chosen few of a particular area. Jammu region is getting politically empowered irrespective of religion, caste or sub-region. This is something the people had been craving for over seven decades but for the so-called political elite class. He said the Union Territory is progressing as per the vision of Prime Minister and his cherished agenda of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas, Sabka Vishwas. It is because of the single minded approach of the administration and the cooperation of the people that the Jammu City is going to emerge as one of five developed and clean cities of northern India, he added.
He said the governmental initiatives are bearing positive results, as the number of Below Poverty Line families in J&K has reduced from 25 to 15 per cent as per reports by a credible periodical of the country which is testimony of the economic alleviation of the state.
