LG terms decision historic

Jammu, Feb 6: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Tuesday termed the passing of the constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Lok Sabha as historic.

“A historic day for Jammu Kashmir! Lok Sabha has cleared the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 to grant scheduled tribe status to Paharis, Padari Tribes, Kolis and Gadda Brahmins, fulfilling the long pending demand of these communities,” he said. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has ensured inclusion of these communities in the Scheduled Tribes list will have no impact on the current level of reservations available to Gujjars, Bakarwals and other tribes and they will continue to get reservation like before.”

The LG said that after the bill is cleared in the Rajya Sabha, the J&K administration would issue necessary notifications ensuring that the people included in the existing list of Scheduled Tribes continue to get the same level of reservation.

He said that the J&K administration was committed to building a J&K which focuses on balanced development and benefits all sections of society with the mantra of inclusive development.

“I also appeal to the people and community elders to discharge their responsibilities well and counter any misinformation being spread by miscreants on level of reservation to the communities,” LG Sinha said. “I reiterate that the inclusion of new communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes will not impact the current level of reservations available to the existing Scheduled Tribe communities like Gujjars and Bakarwals.”