The authorities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have suspended internet services in Rajouri and Poonch districts ahead of Indian parliament’s approval of an anti-tribal bill giving reservation to upper caste Pahari people in the Schedule Tribe list.
The Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is set to be presented in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of the Indian parliament), today.
The bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament) on Tuesday evening officially recognizes the Pahari ethnic group and other communities including Gadda Brahmin, Koli, Paddari Tribe as Scheduled Tribes of the occupied territory.
The mobile internet services have been completely suspended, while officials claimed that internet speeds have been curtailed to prevent any potential disturbances to law and order. The occupation authorities are also closely monitoring the movement of politicians in the region to prevent any protest against the bill.
The Gujjar and Bakerwal activists have been opposing the bill for the last several months stating that it grants reservation to the upper castes by cutting into their reservation.
For the past several days, the agitation against the bill has intensified with the tribal activists asking the Modi-led Indian government to withdraw the bill. The activists said that it is aimed to divide the vote bank of the Gujjar and Bakerwal community.
Guftar Ahmed, a local social activist in a post on X said, ”Internet services snapped in Rajouri and Poonch. Why to snap Internet, why to put restrictions if you think your decision is right. By diluting ST status BJP have crushed Gujjar Bakarwal Community of Jammu and Kashmir”.—KMS
