STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: All Scheduled Tribe Student Associations (ASTSA) strongly criticised the recent decision of State Cabinet for a report by the committee of experts to assess the socio-economic condition and ethnic characteristics of the Pahari speaking people.
Talib Hussain, Gujjar Bakerwal leader, while talking to reporters here on Wednesday, said that there is not a single nomadic community of the Pahari speaking people in the State.
Their social and economic condition, he said, is quite good and those who are falling below the criteria are already enjoying the benefit of OBC, RBA and ALC.
“There was no political and economic expert in the committee, so how they can study the socio-economic conditions of Pahari people?” he questioned.
Observing that the cabinet’s recommendation was nothing but a hoax to create hurdles in the social and economic growth of the ST community, he asserted that it was the responsibility of the cabinet ministers belonging to ST community to question and reject the report prepared by the experts committee.
He requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National ST Commission to reject the biased fake and politicised report which is recommended by State Government to restore peace and normalcy in the State.
“We need assurance from the Governor and Chief Minister as well in this regard otherwise the tribal communities will launch State wide protest against the government,” he warned.
Others present were Naseeb Ali Chowdhary, Iftakhar Chowdhary, Zulafqar Kassana, Ishtayak Misbah, Khalid Bashir, Bilal Chowdhary, Ghulam Hussain, Shahid Ayouob, Taj Chowdhary, Sohit and Sarfraz Kasana.