SRINAGAR: In a recent development in Indian illegally-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Indian police arrested several members of the Gujjar-Bakerwal community during a protest demonstration held at the Press Enclave in Srinagar, the summer capital of the IIOJK.
The protest was organized by a large number of Gujjar-Bakerwals who gathered to voice their opposition to the inclusion of upper-caste Paharis in the Scheduled Tribe list in the occupied territory. The protesters, including students, senior citizens, and youth, carried placards with slogans such as “No to the GD Sharma Commission” and “Justice to Gujjar and Bakerwals,” expressing their strong objection to the inclusion of upper-caste Paharis in the Scheduled Tribe list, according to Kashmir Media Service.
One of the key points of contention raised by the protesters was that the Paharis do not meet the five criteria set by the Lokur Committee in 1965 for identifying Scheduled Tribes. These criteria include primitive traits, distinct culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large, and backwardness. Granting ST status to the upper-caste Paharis was perceived as an injustice by the Gujjar-Bakerwals.
The protest comes in response to a bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Tribe Reservation Act 1989, which has been listed in the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Indian Parliament at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other groups.
According to one of the protesters, various groups of Paharis, along with some members of the ST Morcha of the BJP, are currently in Delhi advocating for the passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha. The Gujjar-Bakerwals fear that the political interests of these groups may overshadow the quest for justice and fairness, especially for a heterogeneous group like the Upper Caste Paharis.
During the demonstration, the Gujjar-Bakerwals highlighted their long-standing struggle against marginalization and oppression. It was revealed that some members of the community still reside in and around jungles and face a literacy rate below 30%, emphasizing the challenges they face on a daily basis.
