Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: While appreciating the grant of 3% reservation to Paharis in Govt jobs, NPP leader Harsh Dev Singh today lambasted the Govt for the neglect of ‘Kolis’ in the matter of providing them reservation and described it as yet another glaring example of regional bias perpetuated against Jammu region.
He said while the Agenda of Alliance unambiguously stated in clause F of point No. 27, the commitment of the Govt to provide ST status and resultant reservation to “Paharis” and “Kolis”, the latter were blatantly disregarded as the said tribe wholly belonged to Jammu region as against former who predominantly inhabited Kashmir region.
Singh said that BJP-PDP had promised job reservations and the grant of ST Status to Paharis and Koli’s during their election campaigns and had subsequently incorporated the same in the Agenda of Alliance. He, however, regretted that whereas the Paharis were granted 3% reservation by amending the J&K Reservation Act, no initiative was taken thereafter by any of the Paharis to rake up the issue during the successive sessions of the Legislative Assembly.
He said Koli community largely inhabit district Udhampur, Kathua, Doda and Ramban, with all the elected representatives belonging to BJP from the said areas. He regretted that not a single MLA of the said area promoted their cause in the Assembly or outside.
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