NC guardian of the interests of all segments of J&K society: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, May 16: National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah said on Monday that the National Conference had strongly advocated for granting Scheduled Tribe status to Pahari speakers without disrupting the reservation quota already granted to other communities.

According to a party statement, while addressing a public rally in Mendhar, Omar said that NC was the guardian of the interests of all segments of society and it was in this context that the reservation of five for cent in vocational and technical colleges was granted by the NC government to students belonging to Pahari-speaking communities.

“The idea that NC is opposed to the reservation for Paharis is fictitious and far from reality. All we want is to have a reservation for Paharis without disturbing the share that was given to the Gujjars before”, a- he declared.

Recalling the assurance given by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that if recommended by the State Government, the Center would grant ST status to these communities. He said that the then state government led by Dr. Farooq Abdullah sent a strong recommendation for granting ST status to Pahari speakers as well as Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu -and-Kashmir. “Subsequently, the issue was raised by Dr Farooq Abdullah and myself in our capacities as Chief Ministers with successive Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi, Vice President Singh, ChanderShekhar, IK Gujral, DeveGowda, PV Narsimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh. The issue has also been addressed with the current exemption. The present attitude of the dispensation towards the matter is no different, they have only offered empty promises,” he said.

He stated that the National Conference is of the opinion that the interests of no community are harmed and it is with this intention that the recommendation has been made for the granting of ST status to people who speak Pahari in a manner that does not conflict with the interests of other segments of society already classified in the reserved categories of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.