Jammu: Stating that some people are trying to create a wedge between the tribal communities, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi favoured reservation for Pahari, Gujjar and Bakerwal communities of Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah, on a three-day visit to Kashmir, was addressing a public rally in the border district of Rajouri.
“After the revocation of Article 370, reservation benefits were given to Dalits, backward classes and those living in the hills,” said Shah.
He said Modi was in favour of giving reservation for Pahari, Gujjar and Bakarwal communities of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Many people with vested interests tried to provoke Gujjars, Bakerwals and Paharis by playing a discrimination card in the reservation process but I am saying that Paharis will also come in the ambit of reservation without any discrimination with other communities.”
Shah said that three families ruled Kashmir for 70 years but the Prime Minister was seeing a bright and golden future for the people of the region.
“The Delimitation Commission was framed to give due representation to Gujjars, Bakerwals and Paharis, which otherwise was a dream,” he added.
“The ‘Modi-Modi’ chants in the rally are answers to those who claimed that if Article 370 will be revoked; there will be a bloodbath,” said Shah.
The Minister said Modi wanted the youths of Jammu and Kashmir to have laptops in their hands. This resulted in a sharp decline in stone-pelting incidents.
“A sustained drive launched by the Prime Minister against militants and Hurriyat bore fruit and stones in the hands of youth were replaced by laptops,” he added.
“By nominating Ghulam Nabi Khatana in the Rajya Sabha, Modi proved that he is committed to give due representation to all sections.”
Post Article 370 revocation, Shah said that Rs 56,000 crore of outside investment has reached Jammu and Kashmir in three years that would ultimately provide employment to youth.
He hailed Lt Governor Manoj Sinha for announcing a holiday on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.
Earlier, Shah paid obeisance at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine.
Meanwhile, mobile Internet services remained temporarily suspended in Jammu and Rajouri districts as preventive measures.
