Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Jan, 04
Deputation comprising members of “Pahari Cultural and Welfare Forum” hailing particularly from Rajouri, Poonch, Karnah, Uri, Tangdhar, Shopian, Drahal, Thanna Mandi, Surankote, Mendhar called upon the J&K Bharatiya Janata Party leadership at party headquarter, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.
Deputation met BJP J&K and Ladakh President Ravinder Raina and party General Secretary (Org.) Ashok Kaul, to thank the party leadership for the appreciation of the genuine concerns of the Pahari speaking populace for the reservation.
Mushtaq Bukhari (Ex-Minister), Vibodh Gupta (Ex-MLC), Mohd. Rashid Qureshi (Ex-MLC), Mohd. Iqbal Malik, Rafiq Chasti (Distt. President Poonch), Gulzar Qureshi (Retd. DC), Amjad Parvaiz Mirza (IPS), Ghulam ahmed Khawaja (Retd. DC), Naseem Malik (Retd. DC Excise), Majid Zandadil, Saleem Mughal, Mohd. Isaq Malik, Gurdev Singh Thakur, Arshad Malik, Akhtar Hussain Shah, Roshan Hussain, Ajaz Ahmed and others were amongst the prominent political and social leaders who comprised the deputation.
Deputation thanked the party leadership vehemently for the recently granted 4% reservation to the Pahari speaking people in the regions. Deputation said that it is only due to the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah that they have witnessed such gift granted to them by the Union Territory administration.
Deputation requested the party leadership that further steps be taken for the strengthening the Pahari community as the community has remained a continuous victim of the earlier governments and faced apathy of the then administration.
They requested the party leadership for the sooner grant of ST status to the community and said that the development of the community will strengthen the patriotic population of the region. He said that the Pahari community has always remained on forefront to ensure that the region remains peaceful despite vicious attempt by various forces and the community further wants to assure that the Paharis will be on the front to set examples of Nationalism.
Ravinder Raina, appreciated the Nationalist feeling of the Pahari community members and said that there is absolutely no doubt on the patriotism of the Paharis. He said that the Paharis have faced various grave situations and threats on life but never compromised on the National security issues. While the Pahari community has worked hard always but has remained on the back end and suffered on the name of development due to the apathy of earlier administrations. But, now with the PM Modi at the helm of affairs, every community from every region will receive its due share and will be led on the path of development.
Ashok Kaul, said that the day has come as a result of their (Pahari community’s) strong struggle and persuasive determination. He said that BJP always stands with the Pahari community and will take all the genuine issues of the community with full vigor.
