![SCs, STs, OBCs Got Their Rights In J&K Only After Removal Of Article 370: PM Modi In RS](https://kashmirobserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/modi.jpeg)
Srinagar- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that SCs, STs and OBCs got their rights in Jammu and Kashmir only after removal of Article 370 of Indian constitution.
PM Modi speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to grant scheduled tribe status to Pahari Ethnic Group and other communities in Jammu & Kashmir.
According to details available, the Lok Sabha also passed the Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 that seeks to include Valmiki community in the Scheduled Caste list of Jammu & Kashmir.
The ST Bill also includes Gadda Brahman, Koli and Paddari communities to the ST list of Jammu and Kashmir.
The grant of ST status would make Paharis eligible for all benefits available to ST category in Jammu and Kashmir. The Paharis are in majority in Nowshera, Kalakote-Sunderbani, Rajouri, Thanmandi, Surankote, Poonch-Haveli, Mendhar, Uri and Karnah assembly segments of J&K.
Notably, Paharis have been fighting for more than three decades for their inclusion in the Schedule Tribe (ST) category.
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday also passed a bill to provide reservation to Other Backward Classes in local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir.
The bill seeks to provide reservation to Other Backward Classes in panchayats and municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir and bring consistency in the local body laws of the Union territory with the provisions of the Constitution.