The BJP received another boost on Saturday as Syed Mohammad Rafiq Shah, a National Conference (NC) leader from Kashmir’s Pahari community and former MLC, along with his supporters, joined the party.
“I have decided to join the BJP due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts towards development, peace, and justice for the deprived sections of society,” Rafiq Shah stated. He further added, “As the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Pahari Tribal Movement, we have been advocating for the political, social, and economic rights of the community for 25 years, which have now been fulfilled by the Narendra Modi government.”
Rafiq Shah, hailing from northern Kashmir’s Trehgam area in the Baramulla district, had switched from the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party to the NC in 2019. He mentioned that previous governments only used the Pahari community as a vote bank, but the Modi government has brought justice to them. He was recently present at the PM’s rally in Jammu on February 20.
Following the Central legislation granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Pahari ethnic group, several leaders from the community such as Mushtaq Ahmad Shah Bukhari and Shehnaz Ganai from the NC, along with Abdul Qayoom Mir and Iqbal Malik, joined the BJP.
Another NC and Pahari leader, Mohammad Ayub Pahalwan from Rajouri district’s Kotranka area, also joined the BJP at a function held at the BJP headquarters.
The new entrants were welcomed by Ravinder Raina, the party’s J&K unit president, who emphasized that their decision to join the BJP validates the work done by the Modi government in J&K. He assured them of maintaining their honor and position to serve the people.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised ST status to the Paharis during a public rally in Rajouri in 2022. The move aimed to provide political reservation for Gujjars and Bakerwals while ensuring their existing benefits and protections remain unaffected.
Since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Gujjars and Bakerwals have been granted political reservation in J&K. The BJP’s efforts to woo these communities have earned support from senior leaders like Haji Mohmmad Hussain, a former NC MLC and prominent Gujjar leader, who recently joined the party.
With Paharis showing interest in the BJP, the party aims to secure the Anantnag seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and potentially win in the Kashmir division with the Pahari community’s support. This strategic move could help the BJP form the government in the upcoming Assembly elections later this year.