Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 29: Newly formed Chenab Pahari Reservation Movement has demanded inclusion of Reasi, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar in the areas of Pahari reservation category at par with Poonch and Poonch besides restoration of RBA quota to 20 percent.
Addressing a press conference, here today, Chairman of the Movement, Sheikh Ayaz Hussain sought to justify their demand and said that whole Chenab Valley region and areas of Reasi district are backward in respect of development, literacy, connectivity and other basic necessities.
“In these districts, 99 percent area is Pahari (hilly) and different languages are spoken in different areas like Pahari Tribe of Peer Panjal region while people of these areas are also having unique primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact, illiteracy, weak health sector, unemployment and backwardness in other fields,” he said.
Further, the Movement leader said that till date no exclusive census or survey has been conducted by focusing on the Pahari speaking people and without any survey it is not justified to drop the people of these remote areas from the list of Pahari reservation.
“It is not understandable as to how the administration has included Paddari language in the Pahari reservation list and dropped the areas which are more backward and Pahari than Paddar. The other languages, which are spoken in these districts may also be included and the Pahari reservation must be granted to the people of Chenab region,” he said.
Sheikh Ayaz Hussain further said that the steps taken by the UT administration with respect to reducing the percentage of RBA quota from 20 percent to 10 percent was not acceptable as this was injustice with the poor people of Reasi, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts.
Demanding inclusion of these four districts in the areas of Pahari reservation category and restoration of RBA quota to 20 percent, the Movement leader also sought political reservation to the Pahari people of Chenab region at par with SC and ST.
Sheikh Ayaz Hussain said that for highlighting these demands and issues of the people of these districts, Chenab Pahari Reservation Movement has been constituted.
Besides Sheikh Ayaz Hussain as the Chairman, Anwar Khan and Tanveer Hussain are vice-Chairman of the Movement while Sarshad Natnoo, Shabir Ahmed and Sujan Singh are general secretary, treasurer and spokesperson, respectively of the organization.
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