Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha interacted with the 120-member delegation of Pahari community at Raj Bhawan today and reiterated the commitment of the UT administration to ensure that the benefits of Scheduled Tribes reservation is extended to Pahari, Padari, Koli and Gadda Brahmin this year and they are included in the Tribal plan schemes, an official press release said.
It said the prominent Pahari leaders conveyed their heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for empowering the Pahari community while safeguarding the interest of Gujjar, Bakarwals and other listed tribes.
“We are all brothers and working with the aim of nation-building,” the Pahari community members said.
Muzaffar Hussain Baig, former deputy chief minister lauded the Central government and the UT administration for fulfilling the long pending demands of the Paharis and other communities, the release said.
It said Rafiq Shah, a Pahari leader said that “after 75 year of political and social slavery, justice has been delivered”. “Today we are feeling empowered and free,” he said.
Senior leader Vibodh Gupta said that Gujjar, Bakarwal and Pahari community will work together for the development of J&K. He said the Scheduled Tribes community will play a major role in the developmental journey of UT.
Dinesh Sharma lauded the historic decision of the government to grant scheduled tribe status to Paharis, Padari Tribes, Koli and Gadda Brahmin. “It has removed the developmental imbalance and strengthened the vision of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas,” he said.
“This is a dawn of new prosperity for the Pahari community and the bright future of our young generation,” Flail Singh said.
Raja Ajaz said the present government under the guidance of Prime Minister and Home Minister has created a conducive atmosphere for the Pahari community and the entire border belt.
Anjum, Pradeep Sharma, Iqbal Malik and Murtaza Khan thanked the UT administration for working as a bridge between the Pahari community and the Government of India and ensuring justice for the community.
The LG assured the delegation that the issues projected by them will be implemented in letter and spirit.
He asked the community elders to constitute a Samiti of prominent members for seamless coordination with Government Officials on the issues concerning the community.
Delegation of former BJP MLAs calls on LG
A delegation of former BJP legislators on Monday called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha here and projected various issues of the Scheduled Caste community, an official spokesman said.
The members of the delegation led by former minister D K Manyal discussed with the lieutenant governor the efforts of the administration for all-round development of the SC community, the spokesman said.
He said the delegation expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and LG-led Jammu and Kashmir administration for ensuring social justice, empowerment of women, youth and socio-economic upliftment of the community.
They apprised the lieutenant governor of various welfare issues of the Scheduled Caste community including reservation in promotion, comprehensive transfer policy for Jammu-based SC employees posted in Kashmir, enhancement in reservation quota and reservation of One Lok Sabha seat for SC community in J&K, the spokesman said.
He said the delegation also put forth the issue of compensation to all owners of the land situated across the defence wire on India- Pakistan border in the UT, land ownership rights to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir refugees, displaced persons and west Pakistan refugees, and extension of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi benefits.
The LG assured the former legislators of appropriate redressal of the issues and demands projected by them during the interaction.
Besides Manyal, the other members of the delegation were former MLAs K L Bhagat, Prof G R Bhagat, Neelam Langeh and Kuldeep Kumar, and District Development Council (DDC) member Dharminder Kumar.
LG Sinha also met a delegation of Other Backward Classes (OBC) Samaj at Raj Bhawan, today.
The delegation of political leaders and prominent citizens expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the J&K administration for reservations in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayats in the UT, the official spokesman said.
