Excelsior Correspondent
RAMNAGAR, Feb 5: Advocating granting benefits of reservation in education and jobs to Kolis, former MLA Ramnagar and State BJP Spokesperson Ranbir Singh Pathania today said that he has taken up the issue with the Governor and the Chief Secretary seeking affirmative steps in this regard as early as possible.
Addressing party workers at Ramnagar, Pathania further informed that he has sought for rectification of Revenue (Bandobasti) record to the extent of allowing ‘Koli’ community to get the benefit of ST reservation on the analogy of ‘Sippi’s.
Needless to mention that a full dressed inquiry by Deputy Commissioner, Kathua in pursuance to the High Court’s judgment delivered in OWP No-1117/2015 whereby it has been held that ‘Sippi and Koli’ are same caste having identical living, culture, clothing, language, customs and nature of livelihood. However it is disheartening to witness that Gaddis and Sippis enjoy ST status whereas ‘Kolis’ have been kept debarred from it till now. Pertinent to mention here that the J&K Commission for Backward Classes has also given a clear cut recommendation in this regard but still this community is deprived of the benefit.
Pathania in the month of August 2017 had taken up the matter with Backward Classes Commission in this regard, in pursuance whereof, commission has categorically recommended the grant of ST status to Koli Community. Pathania sought immediate action in line with the said recommendation. He said that he is hopeful of a positive and early response in this regard.
Hem Raj, president All J & K Koli Sabha was all-praise for Bhartiya Janta Party leadership for raising his community’s legitimate demand in Agenda of Alliance of BJP-PDP coalition. He was all thankful to Pathania who had taken up the issue on the floor of Assembly and with the Commission and other top brass of the Government.
Hem Raj however was quite skeptical of certain opposition leaders who after driven out of power have now started shedding crocodile tears for Kolis. He further questioned and sought reply from those rejected, spent-up leaders as to what affirmative steps had been taken by them while they were whiling away in power corridors and enjoying loaves of power.
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