Reservations to STs, Paharis’a welcome move, Status of other groups should not be diluted: Hakeem to HM Amit Shah

Jammu: Chairman Peoples Democratic Fron and former Minister Hakeem Yaseen while welcoming grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Pahari community has said in democracy every community has a right to seek legitimate rights but one group should in no way override the rights of other communities as has been assured by the Home Minister Amit Shah in the instant case
In a statement issued on Thursday Hakeem while welcoming grant of Scheduled
Tribe (ST) status to Pahari community has urged that the decision should not usurp rights of other socially and educationally backward ethnic minority communities of Jammu and Kashmir. He said benefits of ST status should be given only to the deserving Pahari people who for all practical purposes physically reside in a particular disadvantageous pahari areas . He said benefits of Pahari status should not be given to those who have shifted to other green pastures for living a luxurious life .He said just in case of Backward areas ,certificates were issued only to those people who practically live in a particular backward areas , benefits of Pahari status should also be accrued only to the genuine Pahari speaking people. He said government should take Gujjars also into confidence and explain as to how it planned to protect their quota to address their genuine concerns.” He said government should dispel apprehensions of each reserved category and reassure them that their quota remains undisturbed while granting ST status to Pahari community, adding therein that in fact no community should over ride rights of other culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse group.