Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Jan, 27
Enraged over the centre and state govts and BJP in particular for deplorably failing to accord ST status and reservation in govt. jobs to ‘Kolis’ along with the Pahari speaking people, scores of Panther Party workers spearheaded by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP and other leaders held a massive protest demonstration at Exhibition Ground Jammu today. The Panthers activists raised slogans of “Jammu-virodhi BJP, Hai Hai” and “anti-Jammu BJP, Hai Hai”for ignoring the said community which wholly belonged to Jammu region.
Flaying the saffron party in particular for betraying the Kolis despite commitments made with them during Assembly elections, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh described it as yet another venomous doze of discrimination administered to the divested Jammu region. He divulged that while the State cabinet of erstwhile BJP-PDP hadrecommended the grant of ST status to Pahari speaking people during its rule, it blatantly ignored Kolis despite its incorporated commitment in the ‘Agenda of Alliance” on page no. 10 in clause F of point no. 27. He regretted that even the communiqués of the Union Govt. and PMO Office on the subject were ignored by the state govt. for unknown reasons. While the Paharies who predominantly inhabit District Baramulla, District Anantnag and Kupwara of Kashmir Valley besides some pockets of Rajouri and Poonch have been granted 3% reservation in govt. jobs by amending the J&K Reservation Act to which the Governor had given assent recently, the Kolis who inhabited the far flung areas of District Kathua, District Udhampur, District Doda and District Ramban were neglected and made to suffer miserably, Harsh deplored. He regretted that not a single BJP MLA of the said areas promoted their cause in the successive sessions of the Legislative Assembly during the erstwhile regime despite Saffron brigade’s tall promises doled out to the Koli community during the elections.
Reiterating the demand of Koli’s for inclusion in ST category and reservation for them in govts jobs, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh stated that Koli and Sippis belong to the same family having same culture, occupation, language, economic and social status and residing in hilly area having negligible land owner ship and are dependent upon rearing of animals. Flaying the non chalant attitude of the concerned authorities towards the tribal community, he said that while the grant of ST status to Gaddis, Sippis and Paharies was praiseworthy but the omission and neglect of Koli’s who belonged to marginalized communities of Jammu region needed to be rectified. He called for necessary modifications and corrections in the Revenue records so that errors and mistakes are rectified and justice ensured to Kohlis. Mr. Singh further brought to the notice of the Governor that Dy. Commissioners of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda and Ramban have all recommended the grant of ST status to Koli’s earlier through the official letters addressed to Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare department.
He urged upon the Constitutional head of the State to take cognizance of the neglect of Kolis and ensure justice to the tribal community who literally deserved to be accorded ST status without any delay.
Mr. Singh vowed that JKNPP shall not relent until the poor, downtrodden and deprived sections of society were bestowed with their rights. He sought immediate settlement of the issue of Koli community failing which Panthers Party would intensify its stir for their legitimate rights.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Gagan Partap Singh, Parshotam Parihar, Sham Gorkha, Surinder Chouhan, Bhavishan Singh, Capt. Narotam Singh, Rampaul Sharma, Shanker Chib, Nirmal Kishore, Vijay Kumar, Ashaq Ali, Mohinder Singh, Rashpaul Singh, Udhayveer Singh, Vishab Singh, Bittu Choudhary, Bikram Choudhary, Ajay Sharma besides others.
