Row Over Special Status To Kashmiri Tribe Ahead Of Amit Shah's Visit
NDTV
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to announce Scheduled Tribe status for the Pahari community in Jammu and Kashmir during his three-day visit
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to announce Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Pahari community in Jammu and Kashmir during his three-day visit to the Union Territory. Mr Shah is due to arrive in Jammu later today. He will address two rallies in Rajouri and Baramulla on Tuesday and Wednesday, which are expected to be attended by a large number of people from the Pahari community.
The possibility of granting ST status to the Paharis, however, has triggered a political row.
A senior National Conference leader and former MLA has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to join the Union Home Minister's rally. "Community comes first. Politics later. We all should join the rally and show our collective strength. If we don't achieve ST status today, we will never get it," said Kafeel ur Rehman, a two-time former National Conference MLA from Karnah in Kupwara district.
Mr Rehman told his supporters that 20 buses were kept ready for their transportation to Baramulla where Mr Shah will address a rally on Wednesday.
