Paharies ratify Bukhari as Chairman

Decides to launch crusade in support of ST status

Deciding to launch statewide crusade in support of scheduled tribe status, Jammu & Kashmir Pahari Cultural and Welfare Forum ratified the nomination of former minister Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari as Chairman of the Forum in a meeting of Pahari leaders representing all corner of the state. The meeting which was presided over by former Member Parliament and founder member of the Forum Mirza Abdul Rashid, was attended by Pahari leaders from all political parties, social organizations, bureaucrats and students and all collectively pledged to launch statewide agitation in support of scheduled tribe status, which was denied to the community 20 years ago. All Pahari legislators and formers legislators above party politics including Sardar Rafiq Khan of Peoples Democratic Party, Thakur Rachpal Singh of National Conference, Kafilul-Rehman of National Conference, Shabir Ahmed Khan of Congress, Ajaz Ahmed Jan of National Conference, Murtaza Khan of Peoples Democratic Party, MR Qureshi of National Conference. Speaking on the occasion, speakers suggested to adopt agitational path in order to get the ST status. On the occasion, all Pahari leaders, bureaucrats and employees pledge to fight for their cause with unity and full force. All the participants representing Karnah, Uri, Baramula, Kupwara, Poonch and Rajouri unanimously ratified the nomination of Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari as Chairman of the Forum for two years term. The leaders After ratification, Bukhari gave a call to all former Chairmen of the Forum to become part of the forum and initiate an action against the silence of Government of India towards granting ST status to Paharies. He called upon all political outfits to support their cause. “We will welcome if BJP, Congress, NC, PDP, Panthers Party and even Hurriyat, Shiv Sena, RSS and Bajrang Dal to support us” In his presidential address, Mirza Abdul Rashid said that Paharies are deprived community and they have been denied ST status in 1990 after conspiracy played against the community by some people in New Delhi. He said that when there is no difference in the basic character of Gujjar and Pahari, then there should be equal reservation for both. He said that the Forum doors are all open for all people representing any political party. He said that Pahari status is the basic right of the community and Government of India has to bow down before the aspirations of this community. Representing on behalf of the Paharies of Kashmir Valley, MLA Tangdhar Kafil-ul-Rehman said that all Paharies from Valley will extend their full support to Bukhari in order to get the basic rights to this community. He said that he Pahari culture is an old age culture and we should strive to revive the culture and fight for restoring the glory of the faces of Paharies Senior BJP leader and party’s National Executive Body member Kuldeep Raj Gupta termed Pahari Forum as most secular forum in India and said that they are ready to sacrifice their lives for the cause. He said that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Wajpayee was all ready to grant ST status to Paharies but unfortunately Election Commission notified dates for general elections after two days of the assurance. All the main speakers including Iqbal Malik,MA Sagar, Haji Khursheed Mir, Haji Sadiq Mir, Nisar Rahi, Vijay Kochhar, Maneer Hussain Syed Azam Shah, Naseeb Singh, Iqbal KazmiI, Mohammad Aslam,Mahinder Pyasa,Shahzad Khan,Basheer Khattak, Shakoor Malik, Harcharran Singh and Advocate Tazeem Dar suggested to organize Pahari convention in order to show the strength.