Tribal activist Talib Hussain, renowned for his advocacy against the perpetrators of the notorious Kathua rape and murder case, was apprehended by Jammu and Kashmir police on charges of threatening communal harmony. The arrest transpired during Hussain’s sit-in protest opposing the JK Reservation Bill 2023.
Talib, affiliated with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was taken into custody on Tuesday at Panama Chowk in Jammu, according to his colleagues.
The ‘Jammu Kashmir Reservation Bill, 2023’ was presented in the parliament during the monsoon session in July and was recently approved by the Rajya Sabha.
Despite assurances from the Union government and J&K administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha that the reservation percentages for Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes would remain unaffected, concerns persist.
The Bill includes the ‘Gadda Brahmin,’ ‘Koli,’ and ‘Paddari Tribe’ communities in the ST category (10% in J&K), potentially diminishing opportunities for the already-defined ST communities of J&K in jobs, educational institutions, and the J&K legislature.
The tribal community of Jammu Kashmir has been opposing the bill introduced by the central government as they feel that the reservation will cut into their share. “We are not opposed to their reservation, but the government should not include them in the reservation that is granted to us,” said a tribal Activist Chowdhury Irshad.
He said that earlier, authorities thwarted the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by Gujjar and Bakkerwal groups on December 7, protesting against two contentious Bills in the Lok Sabha.
“Security personnel established checkpoints and blockades on roads in Thanamandi and nearby areas of Rajouri district. At these checkpoints, both passenger and private vehicles underwent thorough searches, leading to the removal of individuals intending to participate in the protest against the Bill,”he told The Kashmiriyat.