Hakeem Yaseen welcomes ST status to Paharis

Srinagar, Feb 8

Chairman Peoples Democratic Fron (PDF) Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen has welcomed the granting of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Pahari community.

In a statement he said that in a democracy every community has a right to seek its genuine rights but one group should in no way over-ride the rights of other community as has been assured by the Home Minister Amit Shah in this case.

While welcoming granting of ST status to Pahari community, Yaseen has urged that the decision should not usurp rights of other socially and educationally backward ethnic minority communities of Jammu and Kashmir. “Benefits of ST status should be given only to the deserving Pahari people who for all practical purposes physically resides in a particular disadvantageous Pahari areas . Benefits of Pahari status should not be given to those who have shifted to other green pastures for living a luxurious life,”PDF chairman said.