JK News Today
MENDHAR, August 28: Raqeeq Ahmed Khan, Spokesperson of Apni Party, has strongly opposed the recently announced Tribal Sub Plan 2025–26, calling it totally biased and discriminatory against the Scheduled Tribe–2 (ST-2) category.
In a statement issued here, Khan alleged that the funds meant for ST-2 communities have been deliberately diverted to ST-1, thereby depriving ST-2 of its rightful share in development and welfare schemes.
He further expressed concern that the scholarships of ST-2 students have not been released for the last one month, which has badly affected poor and deserving students.
“This is a deliberate conspiracy against ST-2. First, their money has been shifted to ST-1, and now even their students are being punished by stopping scholarships. It exposes the government’s anti-tribal policy,” Khan said.
He criticized Tribal Affairs Minister Javid Rana for failing to safeguard the interests of the tribal community, accusing him of being directly responsible for this injustice. He also slammed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government for endorsing such biased policies.
Khan announced that the Apni Party will launch an agitation against the Tribal Minister and the present government until the funds and scholarships of ST-2 are restored.
“We will also move to court against those officers who deliberately diverted the funds of ST-2 to ST-1. Such officers must be held accountable before law,” Khan declared.
Appealing to the tribal leaders, youth, students, and civil society, Khan urged them to unite and support the movement to secure justice for the neglected ST-2 category.
