Jammu: A delegation of Pahari speaking people comprising Zafar Iqbal Manhas, MLC; Kuldeep Raj Gupta, VC State Advisory Board for the Development of Pahari Speaking People; Shah Mohammad Tantray, MLA Poonch;, Vibodh Gupta and Pardeep Sharma – MLCs; Mirza Abdul Rashid, former Speaker and Minister; Syed Rafiq Shah, former MLC; and Dr. Zakir Hussain, Secretary State Advisory Board for the Development of Pahari Speaking People; met Governor N.N. Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here Thursday.
The delegation brought to Governor’s notice the various serious problems which are faced by the Pahari Speaking people of the State, which include the serious difficulties being faced by them on account of frequent cross-border firing along the LoC in Poonch, Rajouri, Karnah and other sectors which result in repeated evacuations; they demanded provision of permanent alternate housing at safer locations, away from the LoC and IB. In order to bring peace and normalcy in the disturbed areas, the delegation suggested organisation of frequent and regular people to government contact programs, particularly in the rural areas, and conduct of Panchayat elections in the State.
The delegation also discussed certain important issues relating to the grant of reservation to Pahari Speaking People in government jobs.
Governor assured high consideration to the issues raised by the delegation and urged them to sustain their endeavours for promoting peace and normalcy.
