Pahari leaders hail passing of ST related bill in Parliament

Rajouri, Feb 9: The leaders of Pahari community have hailed the passing of Scheduled Tribe (ST) related bill in Parliament.

They described as a landmark moment the passing of the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Parliament.

The bill was passed in Lok Sabha two days back and today it was passed in the Rajya Sabha.

The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is meant for amendment of the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order 1989 and through it some more segments will be added in Scheduled Tribes category in Jammu and Kashmir that include Pahari ethnic tribe.

Terming this as a landmark moment for entire tribe, leaders said that they are very happy since the Government of India has fulfilled this long demand.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Ehsan Mirza, a senior leader of Pahari ST Tribe Forum, said that demand for grant of Scheduled Tribe status for Paharis is more than three decades old and people have struggled a lot to get this demand fulfilled.

He said that successive Governments did take steps to grant ST status to Paharis but no final step was taken and things had remained confined to committees, commission and it's reports.

" We met BJP leaders and put forth our demand, " Mirza said adding that in last three years the struggle gained momentum and finally the bill has been passed in both the houses of parliament.

"Today is a historic day for the Pahari Tribe as we are finally recognised as Scheduled Tribes. Decades of struggle have culminated in this moment of justice delivered by the BJP government," said former MLC and BJP's general secretary Vibodh Gupta who is also a Pahari leader.

Gujjar and Bakerwal and Pahari brothers in Jammu and Kashmir stand united, empowered and secure, he said.