STATE TIMES NEWS
CHHAMB: In a function organised by the All India Barwala Sabha at Gigrial village, located in the border area of Chhamb sector, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Tara Chand, was felicitated for his recent induction into the National SC Advisory Council of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
Hundreds of members from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, particularly the Barwala Biradari, gathered to honour their leader, celebrating his recognition at the national level.
Tara Chand, a senior Congress leader, is now the sole representative from J&K in the Council, which is headed by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
The event began with a ceremonial welcome, traditional garlanding, and presentation of a shawl to Tara Chand as a mark of respect. Speakers from across the community expressed gratitude to the national Congress leadership for acknowledging the contributions of Tara Chand, describing the honour as a proud moment for the entire SC community of the region.
Leaders recalled the turning point in 1996, when Tara Chand, then a young and humble representative of the community, was given a Congress mandate – a moment that changed the political landscape for SCs in J&K. Special appreciation was paid to Sonia Gandhi, who appointed Tara Chand as the youngest Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly, and later as Deputy Chief Minister in 2008.
Addressing the gathering, Tara Chand thanked his Biradari for their unwavering support and pledged to continue serving the people with dedication. “Development and employment for the youth have always remained my priority,” he said.
He highlighted the implementation of the Reservation Act and inter-district recruitment policy during his tenure, which led to hundreds of SC youth securing jobs, including appointments as teachers in Kashmir Valley-a milestone in social justice and empowerment.
The event concluded with a unanimous pledge by the community to extend full support to the Congress Party under the leadership of Tara Chand.
Prominent speakers included Sham Lal Radha, Capt. Kalidass, Master Harnam Dass, Kiran Panjalia, Seema Devi, Capt. Parkash Chand, Dr. Kartar Chand, Capt. Harbans Lal, Suram Chand, and others.
