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| Discontent brewing in Pahari folks again.....? | | NC loyalists say it is high time community gets justice | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 26: In a bid to keep its political waters protected, NC led coalition government has been trying to pacify Pahari community in the state with the assurance that it has strongly put forward their case with the Union government to grant ST status to lakhs of Pahari speaking people in the state. But the discontent and disgruntlement among this community is far from over. This reflects in the tone and tenor of even party's staunch loyalists who do not hesitate to say 'it is high time they get justice…….or else it would be now or never'.
Paharies, who are mostly concentrated in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region and some far flung areas like Kupwara,Uri and Bandipora, Gurez in Kashmir Valley have been agitating for this demand for years now but justice has eluded them even during the times when NC ruled the state during previous regimes. When the party came to power in 2008, hope was rekindled within the community that things would be put on fast track by the leaders at the helm, but this time also they have failed them till date with only assurances. Many Pahari leaders within the community who are assocaited with the party for decades feel if present government is not able to help them grant the ST status , it would adversely affect in political equilibrium in so far as affliations with regional parties are concerned besides reigniting the anger among the youth of the community who feel deprived particularly in comparison to Gujjar community of the state.
Though the state government has constituted a Board for fulfilling development needs of the community but it has not satiated political demand of seeking ST status which got intensified much after the Gujjar community was granted this status by the Centre. The leaders of this community contend that heartburn is on this account that despite the fact name of the community was on top of 7 other tribes in the list recommended by the state government in 1989, the community was denied by the pthe then powers at New Delhi for political reasons. "It is strange all other 6 tribes got this status and only Paharies who were on top of the list were ignored", a leader of NC wishing anonymity said adding that it is this discrimination which is now fuelling fire among the youth of the community who are assertive and vociferous.
The Pahari leaders feel the community has been ignored also by the ruling Congress which too has been giving priority and preference to Guujars when it comes to giving favours and incentives , purely on political considerations.
While there have been some voices heard from different rung leaders and cadres among the community on government unable or unwilling to get their demand conceded , senior most leader of the stature of former minister and ex MLA Mushtaq Bhukrai too has been vocal lately over this issue. Though Bhukari who belongs to the community, has been made Vice Chairman of Jammu & Kashmir State Board for Pahari Speaking People, and despite his strong affiliations with the party for a long time, has been openly expressing anguish over what and how he chooses to blame the powers at the helm contending 'non-seriousness of Central Government on the issue of grant of Scheduled Tribe status to Paharies' . According to party leaders, the community, particularly the youth are well aware of the fact that after taking over as Chief Minister it was Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who took the matter with Centre and State Cabinet in 2004 recommended it to Centre. In 2005, J&K Assembly also passed resolution to provide ST status to this community but not even these small steps have been seen when NC led governments ruled the state. So this time, if no movement forward is seen, it is bound the stir the political waters at least in the areas where Pahari speaking people have thick population density. |
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