Pahari people pin hope on BJP-PDP Govt

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: Jammu and Kashmir Pahari People Movement (JKPPM) held a meeting and hoped that the new BJP-PDP coalition Government will redress the issues of pahari people.
Addressing the participants, MA Sagar, provincial president and Shahbaz Khan, Chief Executive, JKPPM stated that Pahari people were lured by fake promises and the community defeated the Pahari candidates in Peer Panchal region belonging to NC and Congress, who befooled Pahari community for their vested and political interests.
They said Pahari community people openly supported BJP and PDP candidates who were not from Pahari community resulting into their success, adding that the new coalition will respect the sentiments of the community and fulfill there long pending and already agreed demand of ST status.
They appealed BJP and PDP to include ST status demand of Pahari people into their Common Minimum Programme without any delay.
Shahbaz Khan appealed to the Pahari youths to come forward and launch peaceful struggle against the discrimination meted out with them for the past 30 years.
State president of Pahari Youth Federation Abdul Qadar Khan, president of Budhal Pahari Youth Action Committee Basharat Rathar, AH Malik, besides many others also addressed the gathering.