Mission Kashmir: Amit Shah promised justice to Bakarwalas, Pahadis and STs

Baramulla: All is set here for the Wednesday public rally of Union home minister Amit Shah who last evening embarked on `Mission Kashmir’ for the second time since the abrogation of Article 370.
Hundreds of security men have been deployed around the Showkat Ali Stadium Kwaja Bagh Baramulla to ensure an incident free rally. The BJP is expecting a massive gathering on Tuesday and the party leaders have been mobilizing people in several parts of north Kashmir to ensure a good public participation.
“All is in place for the rally,” said a security official in Baramulla.
The Traffic police have issued advisory to ensure hassle-free movement.
“Given Public Rally at Showkat Ali Stadium Baramulla on October- 5, motorists who are intending to travel from Srinagar – Baramulla-Uri and vice-versa are advised to adopt following routes to reach their destinations on said date,” traffic advisory said.
The address in this north Kashmir’s town and the J&K visit assumed significance as the delimitation commission has redrawn boundaries for assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies.
The visit also comes two months before the Election Commission of India (ECI’s) deadline for a special summary revision of electoral rolls ends in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah’s public rally is considered as a prelude to the assembly election though BJP has tried to play it down. BJP is looking at the possibility of holding an election early next year. Party sources said Shah’s visit is aimed to revive the cadres, particularly in the Kashmir valley where BJP is not strong.
In a public rally at Rajouri in Jammu today, Shah announced that the Pahari community will soon get reservation in education and jobs as Scheduled Tribe (ST).
ST status to Paharis may be a game changer as they have a sizeable population in Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla, and Kupwara districts of J&K. It is because the Delimitation Commission has reserved nine assembly seats for the Scheduled Tribes. Of these six are in Jammu and three in Kashmir. The constitution of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state had no provision for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly.
Shah is scheduled to chair a high-level security review meeting
Security forces have been put on high alert to ensure incident-free visit. Night patrolling and area domination petrol have been increased on highways and crucial points.
In Srinagar, security forces have intensified frisking and checking at several places.
The road from Badyari Chowk all along the Dal Lake leading to Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) and Raj Bhwan has been closed for any vehicular movement as a precautionary measure and additional security forces have been deployed to thwart any untoward incident.
Security forces were seen frisking pedestrians at several places in capital Srinagar including business hub Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Regal Chowk Chowk and Amirakadal. Dozens of bikes and Scotties were seized at various places by the traffic police in Srinagar today.
(UNI)