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Jammu, June 2 (UNI) Protests by Gujjars have stormed different parts of Jammu and Kashmir to demonstrate their solidarity with their brethren in Rajasthan who are agitating for their inclusion in Schedule tribe category.

Scores of Gujjar leaders and intellectuals have issued statements saying if the BJP government of Rajasthan failed to redress the issue, they would march towards Rajasthan to join the agitation.

The J&K Unit President of the Akhil Bharatiya Gujjar Mahasabha, Ashfaq-ur-Rehman said the community was hurt by the way the Rajasthan government handled the issue.

''Police action on our community members instead of addressing the genesis of the problem which is essentially political in nature and the brutal use of force has left us with no option except to march towards Rajasthan,'' he said.

Balraj Puri, a social activist and an expert on Kashmir who had led the drive that resulted in according of tribal status to Gujjars of J&K by the Central government said, ''The decision to give Schedule Tribe status to Gujjars of J&K was taken by then Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar after a joint meeting in which state intellectuals and Gujjars leaders participated. At that time, Rajasthan Gujjars supported us in our demand and therefore, J&K Gujjars are also supporting Rajasthan Gujjars.'' Mr Puri informed that the Gujjars who were cent percent Muslims in the state of J&K belonged to the same ethnic and racial stock as Jammu and Kashmir Hindu Gujjars in rest of the country. In 1991, the Gujjars who formed the third largest ethnic group of Jammu and Kashmir had waged a peaceful struggle for their inclusion in the list of scheduled tribes.

Student organisations of the state representing Gujjar community have held demonstrations where BJP government was criticised.

Shah Nawaz Chowdhary, President of the Gujjar Students federation said, ''We have decided to send a delegation of the federation to Dausa area of Rajasthan, the scene of protests, to inquire into well being of Gujjars there and express solidarity on behalf of Gujjar community from the J&K.'' There have also been reports of protests in remote parts of the state.

UNI