![Leaders of Pahari Cultural and Welfare Forum addressing a press conference at Jammu on Friday. -Excelsior/Rakesh Leaders of Pahari Cultural and Welfare Forum addressing a press conference at Jammu on Friday. -Excelsior/Rakesh](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/page9-7-2.jpg)
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: J&K Pahari Cultural and Welfare Forum has said that three percent reservation to the community in Government jobs was not sufficient as per the proportionate of their population in the State.
“The reservation should have been from eight to 10 percent, instead of three percent, which is not adequate,” said Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, former Minister and leader of the Forum, while addressing a press conference, here today.
Expressing gratitude to Governor Satya Pal Malik for giving his assent to the Pahari Reservation Bill, he hoped that long pending demand of the community for ST status would also be considered now by the Government of India.
The Pahari community is now filled with a brilliant hope that on the basis of their socio-economic backwardness, their demand for grant of ST status will be considered now by the Government of India so that this backward community may compete with the others in every field of life,” Bukhari said.
Other leaders of the Forum, who accompanied Mushtaq Bukhari in the press conference, included former MLC Mohd Rashid Qureshi, Malik Mohd Iqbal and Bhavishya Sudan. They threw light on the long drawn struggle of the Pahari community in getting reservation.