JK Gujjars demand 'dismissal' of Vasundhara's regime

Jammu, May 31: Supporting the nationwide agitation of Rajasthan Gujjars, who are fighting for the Scheduled Tribe status, the Jammu and Kashmir Gujjars today demanded the ''dismissal'' of the Vasundhara Raje government for being responsible for killing and harassing the Gujjars.

Addressing a press conference here, Akhil Bhartiya Gujjar Maha Sabha president Eshfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal expressed anguish over the brutal killing of Gujjars in Rajasthan and said, ''fighting for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the Gujjars is a genuine demand but they were harassed and arrested by the Vasundhara Raje government for fighting for their rights.'' ''We want immediate dismissal of the Raje government and the incident of firing should be investigated by the CBI,'' Mr Poswal said asserting, ''President's rule should be enforced immediately in Rajasthan besides ex-gratia to the killed (10 lakh each) and injured (5 lakh each) Gujjars and free education to the children of the injured should be announced.'' However, Mr Poswal said that a meeting would be held under the presidentship of National Gujjar president Mr P K Annal Patil tomorrow in New Delhi, in which further course of actions would be discussed.

''For the time being we have suspended our agitation and with tomorrow's meeting, whatever directions are issued by our supreme leaders shall be initiated,'' the Gujjar leader said.

UNI