BHADERWAH,FEB 02 (KNO) : Jammu and Kashmir Watal Association said that it would gherao the Civil Secretariat in Jammu on Feb 05 to press its demands for SC status to community and other issues related to sweepers .Addressing an emergency meeting here at Bhaderwah , Ashiq Ali watal president of the association said that the association is pressing for the framing of policy for the Watal community of whole state and said that the protest would also test the patience of the PDP-led government. He alleged that scavenging has been an occupation imposed upon their community especially in Bhaderwah and other parts of Chenab belt and they wanted SC status to their community in government jobs and other professions . “During NC-Congress government whenever our protests were foiled and we were beaten, PDP used to strongly condemn the police action,” said Watal .“Every newspaper was flooded by the condemnation wherein PDP castigated the then Omar-led government for using force against us. Now as the Mehbooba led government is in state, let us see whether we are allowed to hold peaceful protest or beaten up,” he added."The Watal community will go for secretariat gherao along with other associations of SCs and downtrodden classes to press the government for various demands and against the dilly- dallying policy of the government towards various issues ," he added and appealed to Watal community to participate in the protest.Watal , who was flanked by other associations members and leaders , threatened to intensify protests in case government tried to sabotage their secretariat gherao.They demanded that the State Government to consider their other genuine demands and address them immediately.(KNO)