Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 24: Jammu & Kashmir Pahari Speaking Lawyers Forum organized a convention here, today in which grave concern was expressed over delaying tactics adopted by the Government in granting ST status to Pahari tribe of Rajouri, Poonch, Uri, Keran and Karnah areas of the State.
Addressing the convention, president of the Forum Zahid Sarfraz Malik said that Pahari tribe of the State mainly resides in remote border areas and are facing lot of economic hardships as is evident from their backwardness.
He said the State as well as Union Governments have identified and recognized Paharis as a tribe and the same can be cleared from the facts that the State Government way back vide Cabinet decision No 159 dated 8-8-1989 identified and recommended the Paharis, Gujjars, Bakerwals Gaddi, Bazigars and Saniasis to be declared and notified as ST. Excluding the Paharis the other were declared as ST by the GoI in 1992, he added.
He said the then Governor K V Krishana Rao again recommended the case of Pahari speaking people for grant of ST status to Centre followed by another recommendation by the former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah in 2001 but to no avail.
He said in 1997 during his visit to the State the then Prime Minister Deve Gowda made a commitment while addressing public meetings at Uri and Rajouri in granting ST status to Pahari speaking people. Even the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee also in principle agreed with the demand during a public meeting at Tangdar in Kashmir valley. The case was also recommended by former Chief Minister Mufti Mohamed Sayeed in 2003 but still the GoI has not issued orders in this regard.
Addressing the convention Ashok Sharma former MLC said much more is needed for the upliftment of Pahari people. He appealed the Government for early grant of ST status to Pahari speaking people, which is necessary for the improvement of quality of life of the people. K K Rattan, Rameshwar Prasad Sharma and M R Qureshi all advocates also spoke on the occasion and strongly advocated for the grant of ST status to Pahari speaking people.
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