Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 6: Pahari Tribe ST Forum has decided to support renowned Pahari leader and Apni Party candidate from Anantnag-Rajouri seat Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, the election for which is being held on May 25.
Addressing a press conference here today, Forum leader- Adv Ehsan Mirza, who was flanked by Adv Gurdev Singh Thakur, Bharat Bhushan Vaid, Muneer Mirza and others said that Pahari Tribe people were feeling dejected and unhappy after the BJP did not field its candidate from Anantnag-Rajouri seat. After long deliberations now the Pahari Tribe ST Forum, an apex body representing Pahari Tribe in Poonch and Rajouri, has decided to extend unconditional support to the famous Pahari leader and a literary personality, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas of Apni Party.
Mirza further said that Paharis had been struggling for getting ST status for the last over four de- cades. He said both the major regional parties National Conference and PDP besides Congress did not accorded justice to the Paharis. They only exploited them for their vote bank politics. But the Modi Government has done justice to the Pahari Tribe and provided them ST status.
The Paharis were very happy and eagerly waiting for the opportunity to return the gift of the BJP Government. But after the BJP did not field its candidate from this Lok Sabha constituency, the Paharis felt dejected. Now, under these circumstances, the Paharis have now resolved to support Apni Party candidate and renowned Pahari leader Zafar Iqbal Manhas from Anantnag-Rajouri seat.
They claimed that Forum has played a crucial role in getting ST status. Its leaders met the several MPs, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and even Prime Minister Modi and put forth their decades old demand. After long struggle of many other people as well, this demand could be addressed.
The Forum leaders appealed to the Pahari people from Rajouri and Poonch to cast their vote in favour of Pahari leader-Zaffar Manhas on May 25, the day of polling on Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat.
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