Jammu Feb 23 :- Saying that National Conference has been strongly pleading for the grant of Scheduled Tribe status to Pahari speaking people without disturbing the reservation already granted to other communities, Pahari leaders of the party today recalled the recommendation made to the Centre in this regard by Mr Omar Abdullah in his capacity as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister in April 2014.
In a joint statement, issued from Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, the Pahari leaders, Mr Ajaz Jan, Mohd Aslam Khan, Mr Vipan Pal Sharma, Rahim Daad, Ikhlaq Khan, Mr Shafayat Ahmed Khan, Mr Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, Mr Bushan Uppal, Harcharan Singh Khalsa, Sardar Nirman Singh, Ch. Wali Daad, Th. Yashu Vardan Singh, Master Shamsher Singh,Sayed Peer Anayat Bukhari, Th. Rameshwar Singh, Mr Syed Khurshid Shah, Mr Abdul Had Bhat, Mr Abdul Had Commrde, Mr Manzoor Malik, Mr Shaquet Mir , Mr Mushtaq Shawl and Mr Aftar Lone said that the National Conference has been custodian of interests of all the segments of the society and it was in this context that 5 per cent reservation in the professional and technical colleges had been granted by the Omar Abdullah led government to the students belonging to Pahari speaking communities.
