Sunaina Malik
The historic rally addressed by Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajouri town under the foot hills of Himalayan mountains on October 4, 2022 has changed political scenario of Jammu & Kashmir and confirmed BJP’s popularity even up to the highest peaks of Peer Panjal ranges besides establishing Pahari tribe’s unity for generations to come. Huge gathering of approximately one lakh and more Pahari people in the rally has established the fact that there is also one more ethnic group, a disadvantage tribe- Pahari which resides in the rugged mountains and lead a life full of pain, starvation, poverty, backwardness, illiteracy and unending misery. Amit Shah has made an historic announcement for ST reservation and gifted Pahari tribe with their share under ST quota after the completion official formalities as per suggestions made in G D Sharma Commission report.
As a matter of fact, Pahari tribe has been fighting for its rights since five decades but it, for the first time came into limelight, when a delegation led by BJP senior leader Vibodh Gupta met Union Home Minister in 2019 at Delhi and briefed the minister about true socio- economic condition of Pahari people. After this, another delegation comprising senior BJP leaders like Vibodh Gupta, Iqbal Malik, Mushtaq Bukhari etc called on Amit Shah on August 5, 2022 and further discussed issues of Pahari community with the Home Minister. The delegation also put forward reports of innumerable commissions in their favour and pleaded for fulfillment of their long pending demand. In addition to this, Pahari leaders from time to time keep on highlighting this just cause of Pahari tribe through different platforms, with former MLC Vibodh Gupta most prominent among those, who time and again highlighted the issue of Pahari tribe in Upper House and worked hard in imparting momentum to the Pahari movement. At last, the day came and the promise which Amit Shah made with Pahari delegations on different occasions got fulfilled, with his announcement regarding grant of ST status to Pahari tribe. Pahari tribe’s tsunami on the ‘Land of Kings’ (Rajouri) has started a discussion in political corridors of Jammu & Kashmir regarding political victory of BJP in the forth coming assembly elections. This historic announcement of ST status would move all Pahari voters in favour of BJP and Pahari unity will act as a game-changer for BJP. Story of Pahari tribe’s victory confirms a fact that BJP is the only party which can fulfill dreams, aspirations and demands of each and every Indian, without any discrimination.