Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 26: People belonging to the Pahari community from various Kashmir areas today demanded their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category while alleging that the successive Governments have ignored their decade-old demand.
Scores of people under the banner of All J&K Pahari Cultural and Welfare Forum (JKPCWF), Karnah appeared in the Press Enclave and were seen raising slogans in favour of their demand which they said has remained unfulfilled for a long.
Syed Rafiq Shah, ex-MLC who also heads the JKPCWF said that they have been forced to protest as the Government has been for the last several years ignoring their demand which he said is just and their basic right.
“People from Karnah and Uri have reached here to remind the Central Government of its assurances and promises made with them concerning the inclusion of the people of Pahari community in the ST category; several ministers, Governors which J&K had have accepted our issues and made the recommendations accordingly, but there has not been any headway in this regard so far,” Shah said.
Another member of the Pahari community who identified himself as Mansoor Ahmad from Karnah said that they have been raising their demand of including their community in the ST category since 1969, “however, since then, we have been ignored, pushed around and discriminated; ST is our right and should be extended to us as we will live in far-off and backward areas,” he said.
The protestors demanded that their issue must be addressed without any further delay failing which they will be forced to come out on the streets.
“We have started the campaign today, but we will not stop here, we will make sure that protests by the people from Pahari community, seeking inclusion in the ST category, are held at every district headquarter in the Valley,” the protestor said.
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