Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, May 19: Jammu and Kashmir Pahari People Movement (JKPPM) has reiterated its demand to provide ST status to the Pahari speaking people of Rajouri and Poonch districts.
In one day convention of the delegates of the Movement held here today, several speakers including Shamim Ahmed, Rajinder Mehta, Shahbaz Khan, Vijay Kocher and others demanded that people of this entire border belt of Poonch- Rajouri besides parts of Uri and Kupwara be provided Scheduled Tribe status without any delay. They also stressed for unity among people of this belt for their cause.
Terming the 1947 partition as conspiracy to divide Pahari community of the State, Shahbaz Khan said that 70% of the Paharis were left on that side of the LoC, leaving hardly 30 per cent on this side of J&K. He said that these divided people should be allowed to meet. He pointed out that Justice Sageer Commission and Central interlocutors have also supported the cause of Paharis in their report but nothing has been done so far to address this long pending demand. Several Chief Ministers incuding Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mufti Mohd Sayed, Ghulam Nabi Azad and even Omar Abdullah have given assurances but this demand has remained unresolved.
The Pahari leaders resolved to support only those parties in coming elections which will give guarantee to address their pending demand of ST status.
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