Srinagar, The Indian Parliament has passed three controversial bills related to Jammu and Kashmir (J and K), sparking significant opposition and protests, particularly from the Gujjar-Bakarwal community. The legislation includes measures to amend the list of Scheduled Tribes to add the Pahari Community, among others, despite the ongoing unrest in the region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the upper house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, deliberated and subsequently passed three bills concerning J and K, which had already been approved by the Lok Sabha, the lower house. These bills aim to adjust reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies and modify the lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes within the territory. The passage occurred on Friday, underlining the Indian government’s commitment to altering the socio-political landscape of occupied J and K.

The specific bills ratified include the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Notably, the Scheduled Tribes amendment seeks to incorporate the Gadda Brahmin, Koli, Paddari Tribe, and Pahari Ethnic Group into the scheduled tribes’ list of occupied Kashmir.

Furthermore, the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, presented by Indian Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, proposes reservations for OBCs in local governance structures, a provision not previously available in the region’s panchayats and municipalities. Another amendment introduces the Valmiki community as a synonym for several communities within the Scheduled Castes list in occupied Kashmir.

The enactment of these bills has been met with widespread resistance, particularly from the Gujjar-Bakarwal community, who have expressed fears of marginalization. In response to anticipated protests, the authorities suspended internet services and imposed restrictions in the Jammu region’s Poonch and Rajouri districts, deploying a significant military and police presence to deter anti-India demonstrations.

Critics, including legal and political analysts, interpret the Indian government’s actions as an attempt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party to court Hindu supporters and instigate communal tensions, potentially leading to the persecution of Muslims in the region. The situation remains tense as the local communities grapple with the implications of the newly passed legislation.