Gujjar Bakarwal of Akhnoor up in arms over the proposed Reservation Amendment Bill 2025

Jammu, 14.03.2025: The Gujjar Bakarwal community in Jammu’s Akhnoor district is up in arms over the proposed Reservation Amendment Bill 2025, in a meeting held today at Kandi-Akhnoor under the chairmanship of Ch. Nek Alam, State Social  Leader Manoj Kumar participated as chief guest.

The community members expressed their outrage and criticized MLA Bashir Ahmed Veeri for introducing the bill, which reduced the reservation for ST-1 from 10% to 7%, SC from 8% to 4%, and OBC from 8% to 5%.

While speaking in the meeting, Chief Guest Manoj accused MLA Veeri that this bill is meant to strangle ST SC OBC; for this, the All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations has given a call to gather at Press Club Jammu Dogra Chowk on 24 March 2025 at 10 am and gherao the assembly, so everyone should join this gherao and support to get this bill withdrawn

He further said that Confederation has demanded the rejection of this bill, calling it an attempt to “strangle” the rights of ST, SC, and OBC communities. Confederation has also planned to gherao the assembly on March 24, 2025, to protest against the bill. He further said that Confederation is pushing for a new bill that would increase the reservation for ST to 12%, SC to 10%, and OBC to 27%. They are also demanding the restoration of reservations in promotions for employees and the resolution of other pressing issues.

Chairman Nek Alam, at the conclusion of the meeting, assured the chief guest that the Gujjar Bakarwal community will become part of a larger movement in Jammu and Kashmir, where various communities are fighting for their rights and reservations.

Others who spoke in the meeting were Retd. Captain Adalat Khan, Lambardar Ch Mohd. Sharif, Mohd. Asif, Mohd Latif, Gulzar Ahmed, Ch. Noor Alam, Master Mohd. Younus, Ghulam Rasool, and others.