Even as expectations were running high among the members of the Pahari community over the issue of grant of scheduled tribe status to them during the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, their opponents belonging to the Gujjar Bakerwal community are determined to oppose any such move.
On Monday, hours before the arrival of the Union Home Minister in Jammu, a large number of students belonging to the Gujjar Bakerwal community staged a protest demonstration and submitted a memorandum to the office of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu demanding no such attempt should be made at the highest level to dilute their existing ST status/reservation quota.
On the other hand, senior BJP leaders Monday dropped clear hints claiming vested interests were trying to create a wedge between the two groups and instead of dousing the flames of fire they are trying to add fuel to the fire.
Former state minister and Pahari leader Mushtaq Bukhari Monday said, “The Pahari people are indebted to the Prime Minister and Home Minister for publicly acknowledging their role in nation building. One lakh people are ready to welcome Amit Shah in Rajouri. We have high hopes that we will be granted the coveted ST status soon.”
Ahead of addressing the massive public rally in Rajouri, Amit Shah is scheduled to pay obeisance at the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. Tight security arrangements have been made in and around Rajouri to prevent any untoward incident during the visit of the Union Home Minister.