STATE TIMES NEWS SUNDERBANI: A Pahari Tribe convention was held at Sunderbani sub division headquarters of district Rajouri. Several noted Pahari leaders and prominent personalities and in large members of Pahari tribe took part in this convention. Speakers on this occasion deliberated upon their demand for Scheduled Tribe status and said that their genuine demand has unfortunately been ignored since decades and Pahari tribe is still waiting to get its genuine right of ST status. They said that Pahari ethnicity constitute a tribe and live in hilly, tough terrain of border area and also are part of seasonal migration every year and fulfills all prerequisite to be given Schedule Tribe status. The speakers hailed the concern shown by Government of India in recent times which clearly indicate that Pahari is set to get their basic right of Schedule Tribe status. Interacting during the proceedings the members of the ethnicity in one voice raised concerns of their down trodden condition and appealed GOI to furnish their due long pending demand of ST status. The speakers also pointed that this time centre is lead by a government having complete majority and a PM with firm conviction who can address this genuine demand of much deprived tribe. From time to time different committees and expert panels declared Pahari tribe as the downtrodden ethnicity. Pertinent to mention since 1993 every Governor and Chief Minister of J&K has recommended due ST status to Pahari tribe. Recently in a rally at Jammu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured to deliver justice with the much deprived Pahari tribe. The programme was conducted by Pritam Singh and was very effectively managed by Dinesh Sharma Prabhari BJP, Nowshera-Sunderbani. Those prominent who spoke includes Vibodh Gupta( Ex. MLC), Iqbal Malik DDC Darhal, Adv. Ashan Mirza former AAG, Rajinder Sharma DDC Sunderbani, Rajinder Sharma Chairman MC Sunderbani, Bal Krishan BDC Siot, Bharat Bushan Vaid VC MC Rajouri, Vikrant Sharma, Adv. Gurdev Thakur, Vipan Paul Senior NC leader, Sajjad Mirza, Rakesh Raina, Rakesh Sharma, Capt. Retd. Som Dutt, Capt. Retd. Romesh, Randhir Singh, Nasib Singh, Kasturi Lal, Rash Pal Singh, NC Sharma, Yog Raj and many prominent PRI’s.
