JAMMU: Enraged over the non-inclusion of Koli community in the list of Scheduled Tribes despite repeated assurances, dozens of Panther Party workers held a demonstration at Exhibition Ground, here today.
The Panthers activists led by Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman JKNPP and former Minister and Yashpal Kundal State President Young Panthers raised slogans against BJP and Central Government for ignoring the said community despite their legitimate claims for inclusion in the said category.
Speaking on the occasion, Harsh said that BJP-PDP had promised the grant of ST status to Paharis and Koli’s during their election campaigns and had subsequently incorporated the same in the Agenda of Alliance.
He however regretted that no initiative was taken thereafter by any of the Parties to rake up the issue during the two successive sessions of the Legislative Assembly.
He said that the Koli community largely inhabit District Udhampur, Kathua, Doda and Ramban, with all the elected representatives belonging to BJP from the said areas. He however regretted that not a single MLA of the said area promoted their cause in the Assembly or outside.
Harsh said that the grant of ST status to Kolis was forcefully projected by him during the proceedings of ‘PM’s Working Group on Centre State relations’ of which he was a member and the said group had endorsed the said demand with its positive recommendations.
He also said that he had further petitioned the Prime Minister of the country who had further sought a report on the issue from the State government adding that he had agitated the issue in the erstwhile Legislative Assembly also and the government had assured to process the case.
Justifying the demand of Koli’s for inclusion in ST category, Harsh stated that Koli and Sippis belong to the same family having same culture, occupation, language, economic and social status and residing in hilly area having negligible land owner ship and are dependent upon rearing of animals. He said that whereas Sippis was included in ST category, the Koli’s were ignored inadvertently which needed to be rectified mentioning that while the grant of ST status to Gaddis and Sippis was welcome but the omission of Koli’s who belonged to the same clan from the said category amounted to grave injustice which was required to be undone at the earliest.
Urging upon the Governor to take notice of the genuine grievance of the Koli community, Harsh sought initiation of appropriate steps for inclusion of the said class in ST category. He further apprised the Governor that Deputy Commissioner Kathua vide letter no. DCK/LHS/2014-15/1271-75 dated 11th December, 2014; Deputy Commissioner Udhampur vide office no. DDCU/CM-Sectt./ 2014-15/1062 dated 30th May, 2014; Deputy Commissioner Doda vide office no. 1106/SQ dated 22nd October, 2014 and Deputy Commissioner Ramban vide office no. DCR/SQ/346-48 dated 29th June, 2015 addressed to Com./Sec Social Welfare Deptt. have all recommended the grant of ST status to Koli’s and appealed for early action in respect of the same.
Yash Paul Kundal said that JKNPP sought immediate settlement of the issue of Koli’s failing which Panthers Party would intensify its agitation for the rights.
Among those who participated and spoke on the occasion included Rajesh Padgotra, Sham Gorkha, Kesar Parveen, Purshotam Parihar, Kalish Mohan, Inder Pal, Ravinder Jamwal, Rakesh Gupta, Anil Rakhwal, Romesh Kumar, Thakur Dass beside others.