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| Paharis threaten agitation for ST status | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Dec 3: Leaders of Jammu Kashmir Pahari Cultural and Wel-fare Forum (JKPC WF) yesterday cla-imed that the nu-mber of "Paharis" inhabiting different parts of the state is three million and threatened an agitation for forcing the authorities to concede their demand seeking Scheduled Tribe status for their community. The Gujjar and Bakerwal communities might not have taken their claim and the threat kindly. The reason is that the Gujjar and Bakerwal community, which belong to a different ethnic stock, are opposed to the demand as put forth from time to ti-me by the "Paharis" (read Pathowari-speaking people). There exists no such ethnic group as "Paharis" anywhere in the world. Those who inhabit the hilly and mountainous areas are called "Paharis".
The view of the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities is that the grant of ST status to the "Paharis" will harm their socio-economic and political interests and restore the pre-1991 position when they did not enjoy the ST status. It was in April 1991 that the then government of Chandra Shekhar granted to them the ST status. They also hold the view that the "Paharis" want to create a counterpoise to their just hopes and aspirations. Some of them even go to the extent of threatening that any move on part of the authorities to grant ST status to the "Paharis" will result in "civil war". The grant of ST status to the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities has entitled them certain percentage of jobs in the government and semi-government establishments and admissions to educational institutions, including medical, engineering and agricultural colleges.
The "Pahari" leadership says that those who inhabit certain areas of Rajouri district, whole of Poonch district and parts of the erstwhile Baramulla and Kupwara districts are "Paharis". Those who inhabit the hilly and mountainous areas are Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts, several parts of Reasi, Udhampur, Kathua and Jammu districts, and even parts of Samba district are, according to the "Pahari" leadership, not "Paharis". Their whole formulation appears flawed considering the fact that the entire population of the state, barring those inhabiting the plain areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, are "Paharis", as they inhabit the hilly and mountainous areas, some of which are highly inaccessible, difficult, and even treacherous. The votaries of ST status to the "Paharis" are fully aware of this fact, but they have not accepted it for certain reasons. That's the reason their demand doesn't enjoy universal support in the state. They need to revise their formulation so that all the "Paharis", without any exception, inhabiting the hilly and mountainous areas in Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Reasi, Kathua, Jammu and Samba districts are also included. They have to comeout with a new definition that is acceptable to all in the state. Otherwise, theirs exercise would be an exercise in futility.
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