The recent decision by the Central government to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Pahari community in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to reshape the political landscape in Muslim-majority Rajouri and Poonch, also called Pir Panjal in Jammu, and will likely benefit the BJP.
While the move to grant ST status to Paharis ostensibly aims at addressing historical grievances and expanding social welfare measures, this move has introduced new fault lines into the already complex political terrain of the region. With the Paharis now holding sway in several assembly segments, including those designated as ST seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sees an opportunity to solidify its support base by wooing a chunk of Pahari Muslims and making it difficult for regional parties to lure voters, especially Muslims.
The BJP aims to consolidate its political influence in these strategically important areas for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and later the assembly polls. Making inroads in Pir Panjal is key to the BJP’s plan to come to power in Jammu and Kashmir.
For the Gujjar-Bakarwal community, historically, the decision has sparked concerns about diluted political representation. The community, long marginalised and discriminated against, has relied on reservations for access to education and government jobs as a means of socio-economic upliftment.
They fear the inclusion of the Pahari community in the ST category threatens to undermine their hard-fought gains and exacerbate historical grievances. Rajouri and Poonch districts have been focal points of political contestation in Jammu and Kashmir, characterized by simmering ethnic and religious tensions.
The BJP's strategic manoeuvre to expand the ST list to include Paharis aligns with its broader political agenda of consolidating support among Muslims in the region. By positioning itself as the champion of these communities' interests, the BJP seeks to bolster its electoral prospects in a region historically polarized along ethnic and religious lines.
The decision has elicited strong opposition from various quarters, including former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other political parties, who have raised concerns about its implications for social cohesion and political representation.
The grant of ST status to the Pahari community marks a significant juncture in Jammu and Kashmir's political trajectory. Beyond the electoral calculus, it underscores the intricate interplay between identity-based considerations, electoral dynamics, and administrative measures in a region grappling with rising militancy, historical grievances, and political uncertainty.
As the debate unfolds, the ramifications of this decision will shape the socio-political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir for years to come, underscoring the complex interplay between identity, representation, and power in the region. Already, the move has bolstered the BJP in the region, with Shahnaz Ganie, former NC leader and an influential Pahari leader in Poonch, joining the party.
After joining the BJP, Ganie told THE WEEK, “Alhamdulillah (thank God), we will work to empower people from different sections of society. I believe that it is very encouraging to be part of the BJP." She was an important leader of the NC in Poonch, Jammu, for several years before quitting the party in 2019. She hails from the Poonch district of Jammu and commands influence among the local population, especially the Pahari speakers. Her decision to join the BJP comes days after the Parliament passed the Scheduled Tribe (ST) bill for the Pahari community in Jammu and Kashmir.
The bill will benefit the Paharis politically, and in seeking jobs and admission in educational institutions. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for bringing the bill to extend ST status to Paharis and called the decision visionary. “I am highly grateful to our honourable PM Modi,” she said adding, “This move reflects the visionary leadership of PM Modi.” She said it is a watershed moment and a historical day for the people of J&K. “Passing this bill through a voice vote has given a befitting reply to political parties who were trying to politicise this issue for vested interests,” she said.
Ganie, known for her outspokenness in Jammu and Kashmir's political landscape, has emphasized her commitment to working for the empowerment of various sections of society.
The BJP, however, will have to factor in the anger of the Gujjar-Bakerwals due to ST to Paharis. The party has been trying to woo the Gujjar-Bakerwals given their political heft, but the ST status to Paharis has enraged the community which could cost the BJP in the polls.
