Tiff between NC, BJP legislators
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 12: Two BJP MLAs-Narinder Singh Raina and Arvind Gupta today staged a walkout in the Legislative Assembly in support of extending reservation benefits under the Pahari quota to eligible community members, including Pakistani refugees residing in the plains.
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They walked out of the House after the reply of Health, Education and Social Welfare Minister, Sakina Itoo to a query of Raina during Question Hour in the Assembly.
While staging walkout, the legislators stated that they were not satisfied with the Government’s response regarding the extension of reservation benefits under the Pahari quota to community members residing in Jammu and other plain areas.
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The issue also triggered a heated exchange between the BJP members and National Conference MLA Aijaz Jan, who strongly opposed any extension of reservation benefits to Pahari families residing outside the hilly belts.
Raina said Arvind Gupta has applied for Pahari certificate for last one year but the Tehsildar Khaas has been asking him to prove his identity.
“Whether you are Dogras or Pahari”? Aijaz Jan asked.
Narinder Singh countered Jan saying he too has migrated from Kashmir and asked how he is a Pahari then.
Independent MLA from Bani Rameshwar Singh said Bani is also a Pahari area and should be included in ST-II status.
“Our language, culture is also Pahari,” Singh said.
As Narinder Singh Raina and Arvind Gupta tried to reach near Well of the House, Independent MLA from Surankote Choudhary Akram said they should raise the issue before the Government of India.
Responding to their concerns, Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo said if they fall in the category under rules and there is delay on the part of Tehsildar, the Department will examine the issue. However, she made it clear that the norms have to be fulfilled.
Both the MLAs later walked-out from the Assembly saying they were not satisfied with the reply.
Replying to the main question on the subject raised by Raina, Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo said the extension of Scheduled Tribe-II (ST-II) benefits, covering Pahari-speaking people among others, is based on ethnic identity and not on regional considerations.
“The ST-I reservation (for Gujjars and Bakerwals) stands implemented uniformly across the entire Union Territory of J-K. The reservation under the ST-II category is not region-based or area-specific but is given on the basis of Pahari ethnicity to various groups,” she said.
Responding to a query on whether the Government intends to extend ST-II reservation benefits to persons belonging to the Pahari ethnic group residing in Jammu to uphold constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination, the Minister said the policy is consistent with constitutional principles of equality, fairness, and non-discrimination.
Talking to reporters, Raina questioned the Government’s stand, saying that if members of Scheduled Tribe (ST-1) are entitled to reservation benefits irrespective of where they reside, the same principle should apply to Pahari-speaking people.
He argued that geographical area should not be made a criterion for extending the benefits.
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