Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Dec 20: Pahari organizations held one day convention, here today, for accelerating momentum on the demand for Scheduled Tribes status to Pahari Speaking People in the State.
The convention, organized by Vinod Kumar of Pahari Sangarsh Morcha, was presided over by Ab Rehman Mirza, veteran Pahari leader.
The participants unanimously decided to launch mass people contact in order to aware and unite the community to launch agitation if Government fails to fulfill their demand. “We have decided to teach the Government a lesson so that in future these parties would not play with our sentiments”, JKPPM chief executive Shahbaz Khan and Advocate Ab Qadar Khan, spokesman Pahari Fourm, said.
Shahbaz Khan informed that they have launched mass contact programme in Poonch and Rajouri districts and people will be made aware about the advantage of ST status. He said that the community will be motivated to vote against those who befool them for their political benefit.
Criticizing those Gujjar leaders who were opposing their demand, Shahwaz Khan alleged that these ‘nefarious design’ people were hell bent to create negative and bitter feelings between the two communities. “Gujjars even before the dawn of independence were having elite background. They were Zialdars, Numberdars, venders and Jagirdaars and they were the owner of thousands of kanals of land and immovable property” he added.
Vinod Kumar, Ab Rehman Mirza and others also addressed the convention. They stressed that the Pahari Speaking People would take their struggle to logical conclusion despite all odds.
They also appealed the community to remain united for the struggle.
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