Pahadi Community Rights
On the third day of his J&K visit, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a rally at Baramulla in North Kashmir. The rally scheduled for 8:30 am saw men and women come in large numbers to listen to the Minister. The locals were eager to know what the Minister was going to announce for the Pahadis. Mohammad Rafiq, a local resident said that the minister has made clear that the senior community have their own rights and Pahadis too have their rights. The Home Minister was expected to make several new announcements too.
Kashmiri women participated in the rally in huge numbers. Saddam Hussein, another local resident pointed out that the expected announcement regarding ST status of Pahadis has made us come here in great numbers and we want to thank him and show our appreciation. Haji Tasleem, a local resident said that it was a historic day in Kashmir as this was a need for the last 40-50 years and today it is being fulfilled. People from all over Kashmir were gathering at the Showkat Ali Stadium in Baramulla to thank him. ‘Hum Ek Hain’ slogans were raised by the Kashmiris to celebrate the announcements.