First Time In India: Amit Shah Announces Quota For Pahari Community

If ST status is granted to the Paharis, it will be the first instance of a linguistic group earning reservations in India. For this to happen, the Central government needs to amend the Reservations Act in Parliament, NDTV reported.

“The commission (set up by Lieutenant Governor) has sent the report and recommended reservation for Gujjar, Bakarwal and Pahari communities. It will be given soon,” he said at a BJP rally here. He claimed the reservation became possible only after special status under Article 370 was removed.

“With their removal now, minorities, Dalits, tribals, Paharis will get their rights,” he said. Hindus are a religious minority in the Muslim-majority union territory.