Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Oct 28: Lawyers Association Poonch has urged the Government to consider the 30 year long demand of granting ST status to the people of this Rajouri-Poonch belt.
Talking to media-persons here today, Association president Advocate Anjum Mehmood said that the previous Govt was hell bent to damage the interests and identity of the Pahari speaking community.
He said that their demand of ST Status is pending for the last more than 30 years and any further delay in this sensitive State like J&K is not in the interest of State and the Centre because frustrated youth of the community can be misled and misguided by anti- social elements. Anjum said that Pahari community is sharing the same culture and customs with those of the others, who are enjoying this status and is still in search of justice, whereas more than one lakh unemployed youth are facing competition from students of urban and other big cities which is great injustice to the down trodden Pahari community.
He maintained that every successive Govt had promised to fulfill this demand, but unfortunately the Pahari community is yet deprived of it. He appealed the leaders of the ruling coalition of PDP-BJP to take up this matter of important nature with the Prime Minister. He said that Pahari people have a high hope from the BJP led Government.
Vice president of the Association, Advocate Alayas Ahmed Khawaja said that the present Govt should learn lesson from the recent elections. He said that Paharis will not support the Coalition partners in next elections if they failed to provide them justice. The people will show them their place. He warned to launch massive agitation in near future.
Ghulam Mustafa, Tahir Mahmood, Adv Munish and Adv Ankush Sharma also spoke on the occasion.
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