Jammu: Cutting across party lines, the Pahari community of Jammu and Kashmir has demanded Schedule Tribe status as has been conferred to the Gujjars of the State in 1991.

The Paharis live in the areas along the Line of Control and are concentrated in Karnah area of Kupwara district, Uri area of Baramulla and entire belt of Rajouri-Poonch districts. The areas of the Gujjar concentration are also the same. At present the Gujjars of the State, who form the 90 per cent of its tribal population were conferred the Schedule Tribe status in 1991. Now, the Pahari population, a linguistic identity has also joined the demand for getting the Schedule Tribe status.

The genesis of the demand of the Paharis for the grant of ST status is based on the argument that they reside along with the Gujjar population in various parts of the State and therefore face the same problems as their Gujjar counterparts.

Talking to reporters, the Pahari Leader and member of the Poonch Assembly constituency Ghulam Mohammad Jan said, the Paharis have the same socio-economic existence as the Gujjar population therefore they should also be granted the ST status.

The demand of the Pahari community has been opposed by the Gujjar leadership and it has almost created a vertical divide between the two communities. The Gujjar leadership argue that the Pahari is merely a linguistic identity and not a homogenous group as has been the Gujjars. Chowdhary Shah Mohammad, leader of the Gujjar United Front said, the parameters for the grant of ST status were well defined and no where it was written that any linguistic identity enjoyed the right to get tribal status.

``We would oppose any move to bring the Pahari population under the Schedule Tribe category as this would be unconstitutional," he added.

At present the demand of the Pahari community has been forwarded by the State Government to the Central Government.

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