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| Shun anti-tribal policies or face wrath: Gujjars warn | | Muzaffer Baigh real enemy of Gujjars: alleges Boken | | Early Times Reporter
Srinagar | Feb 17
Issuing an ultimatum to Peoples Democratic Party and National Conference to shun their anti tribal Gujjar policies or face wrath of Scheduled Tribes of the State, the Gujjars and Bakerwals of the state has threatened to launch state wide agitation and expose the legislators belonging to these parties for their anti- Gujjar policies.
The ultimatum has been given in the backdrop of the news reports that 10 legislatures belonging to both PDP and NC have met the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi last evening demanding grant of ST Status for the non tribal people speaking Pahari dialects in the State .The group of legislators of both PDP and NC was led by Muzzafar Hussain Beigh Deputy Chief Minister.
The Gujjars who have hold over 13 constituencies and can elect over 30 legislators in the state Assembly have threatened to boycott both the regional parties PDP and NC as well in ensuing election in case they continued their anti tribal polices.
The tribes through their Prime organization "Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar Bakerwal Joint Forum" has sent a strong worded letter to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed PDP Patron and Dr. Farooq Abdullah Patron Jammu and Kashmir National Conference , demanding pitting hold and check the anti- Gujjar activities of the legislators and party functionaries belonging to their parties. Otherwise, the Gujjars will start a state wide agitation and expose these legislators who have been elected with the active support and votes of Gujjars of the State but are working against the constitutional safeguards and genuine interests of Tribal nomad Gujjars which constitute the third largest ethnic identity of the State having 20 to 25% population.
Giving details about these letters Haji Shamsher Ali Boken, State President of the organization said in PDP Biegh is misleading and deceiving the coalition government especially his own party on the issue which will result in communal tension and breach of peace in State especially in border belts of J&K
A list of eight legislators and nine Party leaders has been provided to Dr. Farooq Abdullah who indulged in anti- tribal movement and thus creating breach of peace, chaos and confusion. Boken alleged that Muzaffar Hussain Baigh whose name stands at Serial number one of the list submitted to PDP Patron, is a real enemy of Gujjars who wants to grab the legitimate rights and constitutional safeguards available to the Gujjars that's why in 2006 he was instrumental in passing a resolution in the State Assembly demanding the Central Government to grant tribal status to Pahari Speaking people.
The letter said Paharis were neither defined as a weaker section and nor they approached before the Gajendragadkar Commission, the Sikri Commission, the Wazir Commission (1969), the Anand Commission (1976) and the Mandal Commission which covered the entire country. Such class of people has neither been defined in any works of history, anthropology or census nor even mentioned in revenue records.
Paharis are neither tribal nor nomadic in character and they are not socially, economically and educationally backward, the letter said.
The letter said Paharis are already enjoying reservation under three different categories i.e. RBA, ALC and OBC in different areas. The demand of Pahari speaking people is merely based on the premises of language while the dialect or the language is not any criteria to declare any class as ST, the letter adds.
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