In poll-bound HP, announcement on Hattis leads to resentment among SCs, Gujjars in Sirmaur

Political parties looking to capitalise on this but also want to retain support from Hatti people

In poll-bound Himachal Pradesh, the recent announcement by the Centre to bring the Hatti community under the Scheduled Tribes list in Sirmaur district is spreading resentment among some sections. The only ST community in the district - Gujjars - and Scheduled Caste groups have voiced concerns over the move.

With the Assembly elections not far away, the ruling BJP is faced with a delicate balancing act on the issue, while Opposition parties like the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) are hoping to capitalise on this resentment.   The State is set to vote on November 12. 

Soon after Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda announced the Cabinet’s decision to include the Hatti community in the ST list, the BJP’s ST Morcha chief in Sirmaur, Hansraj Bhatia, who belongs to the Gujjar community, quit his position along with six other members. Mr. Bhatia’s outfit, the Gujjar Kalyan Parishad, had also staged a road blockade in Kala Amb - a key entry point to Himachal Pradesh. 

The Sirmaur district has five Assembly seats - Pachhad, Nahan, Renukaji, Paonta Sahib and Shillai. Pachhad and Renukaji are reserved for SCs.

“Most people of our community live in the Nahan constituency area and in the entire district, our population is just 10,000-11,000, which includes both Hindus and Muslims. Now, if the government wants to bring 1.6 lakh Hatti members in the ST list, our share of job reservations will be wiped out,” Mr. Bhatia told The Hindu, as he prepared for a meeting of Gujjar leaders in Kala Amb to decide which way they will vote in the upcoming Assembly election 

He added, “We are not against anybody. We are just saying our share of the benefits should not be diluted. Hatti people are generally better-off than us. A lot of our community members are still nomadic. How will we compete?”  

The Congress’ Ajay Solanki is contesting at Nahan against incumbent Dr. Rajeev Bindal (BJP), against whom he lost in 2017. Congress leaders have been saying they will make the resentment among Gujjars an issue in the polls.