Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary, Tarun Chugh called the grant of ST status to Paharis watershed moment.

Chugh said that we are highly thankful to PM Modi for granting Scheduled Tribe status to Pahari Ethnic Community. 

This is a watershed moment and a historical day for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, a long overdue, which has been fulfilled by PM Modi he said.

He also lashed out at political parties for politicising the issue.

He said that passing of this bill with a thumping majority is a befitting reply to the political parties who were politicising the issue for their own vested interest. 

Notably, Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed three Bills related to Jammu and Kashmir including Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Bill to provide reservation to Other Backward Classes in local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir.

Chugh said that these Bills have brought justice to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and it has only been possible under the leadership of PM Modi. "Congress and other regional parties have failed to deliver justice to the people over the last 70 years and used these communities for their own political benefits only," he said. 

He said that these Bills will restore the rights of the people belonging to Pahari and other communities who have been added in the SC and ST lists, while PM Modi-led government has also elevated the status of Gujjar and Bakerwal communities.