Real nationalists Paharis deserve ST status and political reservation without any pre-condition; Only BJP can provide justice to us: Paharis

Real nationalists Paharis deserve ST status and political reservation without any pre-condition; Only BJP can provide justice to us: Paharis

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

POONCH/RAJOURI: The recent visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to UT of J&K was very fruitful. On one hand, Amit Shah gave strong directions to security forces to work hard to ensure peace all around, and on the other hand, the union home minister gave a pleasing statement in favour of Paharis and said that the future chief Minister would be from Paharis one day.

This statement has increased the hope among Paharis that the BJP led government will grant much deserved ST status and political reservation to Pahari people soon. It is pertinent to mention here that Paharis stood strongly with the nation through good and bad times, but this tribe was not given its due status. In 1990, when J&K government recommended Paharis, Gujjars and Gaddis/Sippis to be included in ST category, the then Kashmiri leaders played wrong move and instigated the Gujjars to object granting of ST status to Paharis tribe and they succeeded in their mission and denied Paharis their due share. For about three decades, Paharis have been fighting for their genuine cause, but the majority of state and union governments played politics over the years and denied Paharis their much needed ST status. After a long struggle, Paharsi were given 4% reservation by the J&K government, but the main demand of Paharis is ST status and political reservation and  the BJP government at the centre must grant them without placing any pre-condition. Paharis are the real nationalist in character and after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A, it was Paharis who voted for BJP in DDC elections in majority of Pahari speaking belts while others voted for GUPKAR alliance candidates. There are more than seven lakhs Paharis in Poonch and Rajouri belt alone and they never stood against the national interest and are real border dwellers. During various wars with Pakistan and during the militancy period also, Paharis played a big role in the establishment of peace. On one hand, Paharis protected the border and never allowed militancy to spread its tentacles in Poonch and Rajouri belt and stood strongly with the national interest, but on the other hand, huge conspiracies are being hatched against Paharis by questioning their integrity for the nation and such forces are not aware of the selfless contribution of the Paharis for the nation. Political parties should not involve themselves in vote bank business with Paharis as this tribe is genetically hard core nationalist and not self proclaimed nationalists.  This tribe never restored to any means inimical to national interest for their self interest. Paharis deserve political reservation and it would be better for the BJP led NDA government at the centre to grant Paharis much deserved ST status and that too without any pre-condition. Paharis are loyal from heart for the country as they don’t know political gimmicks for their self interest. Pahari speaking people of Poonch, Rajouri, Uri, Karnah and other areas of Kashmir are  real nationalists from the heart and the BJP government should grant ST status and political reservation in their favour which was pending for them for over three decades. A Pahari leader wishing anonymity told “POONCH TODAY”, “Only BJP led government at the centre can provide us justice and we are hopeful that we will get it soon.”