Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: Pahari Tribe ST Forum has categorically denounced all such attempts by some quarters having concealed nefarious designs that are trying to dilute the demand of ST status to the marginalized, down trodden Pahari Tribe.
Interacting with media fraternity here today, Ashan Mirza (adv) claimed that certain quarters are using even some media platforms for creating false narratives, thus unnecessarily raising doubts and confusions.
Commenting on the recent issue raised by Tehsildar RS Pura, Mirza pointed that when State Commission for Backward Classes headed by Jeet Lal Gupta in 2017 replying to queries raised by Social Welfare Department and by then Governor J&K has already settled the process of identification of Pahari speaking areas, criteria to be adopted, basis on which the person can be declared as PSP and other such issues, even then raising such confusions is just befooling the innocent masses and raising question mark on the efficiency of expert panels.
Mirza further said that according to State Commission for Backward Classes recommendations, of the total population of Paharis in the state, 74! resides in Poonch and Rajouri district alone and nearly 16! resides in compact geographical territories of Uri, Boniyar, Keran and Karnah tehsils. Thus 90% of Pahari speaking people stand unambiguously identified as a group comprising entire population of Rajouri, Poonch, Uri, Boniyar, Keran and Karnah. Only 10 ! are a fragment portion who are found in scattered settlements that too in Kashmir valley.
Gurdev Thakur (adv) while interacting stated that in Jammu Province Pahari Tribe people only resides in twin border districts of Rajouri Poonch that has been identified by different panels and commissions. He added that every person of Rajouri- Poonch except SC/ST are members of Pahari Tribe.
He further warned ‘certain quarters’/ personnel not to create unnecessary confusions. Sajjad Mirza and Salim Naaz Mughal also accompanied.
Follow our WhatsApp channel