TNR DESK
Shimla: The scheduled meeting between the government and the Hati community to discuss the issuance of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status turned chaotic as members vehemently protested and eventually boycotted the session. The Hati community alleges deliberate delays by the government in granting them ST status. They demanded provisional ST certificates until clarification is received from the central government and issued a stern 7-day ultimatum. If the government fails to provide ST certificates within the specified timeframe, the Hati community has threatened to take to the streets.
Cabinet Minister Jagat Singh Negi clarified that due to ambiguities in the notification related to conferring ST status on the Hati community, a clarification has been sought from the central government. He mentioned that the legal department has been approached for advice on issuing provisional ST certificates to the Hati community. The meeting, attended by Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan, MLA Vinay Kumar, Chief Secretary Onkar Sharma, Law Secretary Sharad Kumar Lagwal, and officials from the Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes, remained inconclusive due to the community’s strong protest.
