Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 16: Jammu and Kashmir Pahari Peoples Movement (JKPPM) today the threatened the State Government to launch a cross LoC campaign for the cause of Pahari community.
In a joint statement issued here today, Chief Executive of the Movement Shahbaz Khan and R S Mehta, spokesman, said that they have decided to meet the Pahari leaders across the Line of Control to launch a cross LoC campaign for the cause of Pahari community, as the State Government did not pay any heed to the demands of the Pahari people regarding ST status.
JKPPM leaders demanded Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to allow them to meet their counterparts in PoK so that they can chalk out the plan for the welfare of the community. It added that the permission to Pahari leaders to visit PoK will also boost Indo-Pak relations.
Terming Bakerwals as real nomads, Chief Executive of JKPPM said that in spite of the fact that Gujjars are settled community and its members remained on the prestigious State level posts in all the departments, they are enjoying ST status for last more than 25years.
Despite J&K High Court’s recommendation in 2007 to Central Government to grant ST Status to Pahari Community, they have been ignored and discriminated in all the fields, Khan said, adding that it is in the interest of Center and State Government to provide ST Status to the community without any further delay otherwise the most dejected Pahari youths can be misused or misled by the anti national and anti social elements.