Srinagar, Jan 24: Former Chief Minister and President Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, on Thursday welcomed the government decision of providing reservation to the persons belonging to Pahari community in Jammu and Kashmir and termed it as an ‘appropriate step’ towards state’s harmonious growth.
In a statement issued here, Mehbooba congratulated the Pahari community for being granted the reservation, stating that the decision was taken by the PDP led government last year in February and that she was thankful to the Governor for his assent to the vital decision.
She said that the PDP always felt concerned about the problems faced by the educated youth from among this community, more particularly in the background of their economic condition, social environment and lack of facilities to come up to the standards of competition.
Mehbooba further remarked that the PDP, since inception, had been striving for the upliftment of all sections of the society through economic empowerment, quality education, cultural promotion and equal opportunities for growth. “Towards the fulfillment of these objectives an exceptional treatment to certain communities has been the legitimate desire of PDP leadership. Reservation decision for Paharis was one such decision that meets the party’s social agenda, said PDP President.
Meanwhile, National Conference State Secretary and former minister, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari and senior leader Th Rachpal Singh on Friday hailed the decision with regard to grant of reservation to Pahari speaking people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Expressing gratitude to Governor Satya Pal Malik for conceding to the demand of the Pahari speaking people, Bukhari and Th Rachpal Singh in a joint statement said that the bill in this regard had been introduced by the National Conference led government, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly in 2014, envisaging five percent reservation without disturbing the reservation already granted to other communities.
Bukhari and Th Rachpal Singh said National Conference has all along worked for the upliftment of the people, especially the marginalized segments of society. In this context they recalled the pioneering initiatives of the party, which have already borne results in terms of empowerment and emancipation of weaker sections of society.
