CM urged to ban anti-Gujjar propaganda

Jammu, Nov 10 (UNI) The Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir today objected strongly the distribution of anti-Gujjar pamphlets, allegedly by an organisation of Pahari people, in various parts of the state and urged the Chief Minister to restrain such ''politically motivated'' moves against the tribal community.

In this regard, a letter signed by hundreds of Gujjars has been sent to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad through Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation -- a National Organisation working on various aspects of tribals of India with a special focus on Gujjars, National Secretary of the Foundation, Dr Javaid Rahi said.

The distribution of pamphlets by one J&K Pahari Cultural and Welfare Forum (PCWF), Dr Rahi said, had been done keeping in view the prospective elections in the state. ''The material (in the pamphlet) is self-made, politically-motivated having selfish ends,'' he said.

''We have urged the Chief Minister through a letter to intervene and immediately ban these provocative published material keeping in view the resultant confrontation between Gujjars and Pahari speaking people of the state,'' Dr Rahi said.

The PCWF, he said, had no right to lodge a misinformation campaign against the Gujjars and their ST status.

The anti-Gujjar material, which is being allegedly distributed in shape of three types of pamphlets and booklets, have provocative statements against Gujjars of the state viz a viz their tribal status, he explained about the letter.

''The Gujjars of J and K have rejected out rightly the self-made census of Gujjars published by PCWF, describing it as an attempt to grab the rights of tribal community of the state'' Dr Rahi added.

UNI