Shadow Correspondent
Mendhar, May, 23
Apni Party on Thursday took out an impressive roadshow across Mendhar Town with the participation of hundreds of people with their vehicles and motorbikes in support of the Party’s candidate for Rajouri – Anantnag Parliamentary seat, Zafar Iqbal Manhas.
The mega roadshow started from Children Park, and it concluded at the Bus Stand, Mendhar in Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir in which Former Dy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, Yudhvir Sethi, Mumtaz Ahmad Khan and other leaders also participated along with the Apni Party leaders.
As a show of strength, the rally of people passed through various roads, and chowks expressing their support to the Party candidate, Zafar Iqbal Manhas sahab.
Expressing his gratitude to the people of Pir Panjal, who have shown their affection and support to him, the Party’s candidate, Zafar Iqbal Manhas cautioned to the people of Pir Panjal from the microscopic elements, who are bent upon to disturb brotherhood, and mutual coexistence of the Gujjars and Pahari tribes in the region for centuries.
“These microscopic people in the region are trying to create misunderstanding by sowing the seeds of discord in the society as they don’t believe in Live and Let Live. However, we will fight them at any cost to defend the mutual respect, and brotherhood of Gujjar – Paharis in the region,” said Manhas, while urging the people to stay vigilant from such elements.
He recalled how National Conference and its alliance partner, Congress Party deliberately divided Pir Panjal Region (Pahari areas) and created a Line of Control by dividing the Region in two parts i.e., one part of it is presently under the occupation of Pakistan since 1947.
These two parties joined hands to divide the strategically important border belt of Pahari speaking people into two parts, the Apni Party candidate said, while blaming the National Conference, and its alliance Congress Party as both were in power both in Centre and in J&K respectively.
He said that they were responsible for making the whole region stretching from Rajouri to Karnah, a border area that opened the door of unending miseries and sufferings of both parts of the people of the undivided State of Maharaja.
Remembering the struggle of more than 45 years of Pahari tribe (one of most backward and neglected tribes) to get the recognition, and reservation; Manhas said that some of the vested interests, tried more than once to crush Pahari movement that has now grown into a fully grown tree with its large trunk following its long struggle.
“I warn these self-interest individuals that we will not allow any kind of compromise with the future generation. Majority of Gujjars-Pahari live in peace, and brotherhood with each other since centuries in the Region. However, we will not allow destructive plans of a few against the reservation to Pahari Tribe, neither we shall allow them to harm our centuries old brotherhood” he stated.
He said that the urbanized microscopic minority is creating misunderstanding among the Gujjars – Paharis tribes for their vested interest, who have settled in urban areas of Jammu and other parts of the region.
“We will expose them when the time comes and will not allow such elements to hurt the peaceful atmosphere in the region,” he warned again.
Meanwhile, he assured that if he gets elected to the Parliament, he will revamp the development and tourism in the region which would generate employment and boost the local economy. The region has huge potential that needs to be explored for the sustainable development, and exploration of new avenues of employment opportunity.
He also referred to his commitment that he would leave no stone unturned to fight for get a separate Parliamentary seat for Rajouri – Poonch so that the people get their own representative to the Parliament.
He also pitched for Hill Development Council, and funds on the pattern of Ladakh. He also brought the attention of the people towards the plight of the families whose youth have been detained under different charges and assured that the Party would try to get them released from the custody. “We want to provide an opportunity to the detained youth to return to normal mainstream life,” he added, while reiterating the assurance to get a sanction for the construction of two important tunnels on historic Mughal Road i.e., Dera Ki Gali, and Peer Ki Gali to keep the highway operational in all the weather conditions.
Prominent among those who participated in the roadshow include Raqeeq Ahmed Khan, Wajid Bashir Tikoo, Zulfkar Mumtaz, Aftab Tabi, Ajaz Khan, Kafeel Khan, Nazakat Shah, Tariq Khan, Shakeel Khan, Rt. SP Razaq Khan, Abdul Gani Manhas, and others.
