Kashir channel's cultural aggression against Gujjars:

Srinagar, Sep 4 (UNI) The Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF), an organisation working for overall development of tribes of India, today termed as ''cultural aggression'' against Gujjars the Kashir channel's ''boycott'' of Gojri language.

In a statement here, TRCF national secretary Javaid Rahi alleged that the dedicated Doordarshan channel for Jammu and Kashmir -- DD Kashir -- launched with the objective of countering Pakistani media propaganda has failed to serve its purpose.

''I call it cultural aggression against Gujjars as the channel does not telecast even a five-minute programme in Gojri, the language spoken by about 25 per cent population of the state. It has failed to counter massive anti-India propaganda launched by Pakistan Television (PTV),'' he added.

This was the only regional channel for which the Centre has allocated more than Rs 299.87 crore during the current year. ''We have been demanding a 10-minute Gojri news bulletin since the channel was launched to counter Pakistani propaganda which has badly influenced the Gujjars who do not understand any other language other than Gojri,'' Dr Rahi said.

He said local television channels in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have also started programmes in Gojri to influence Gujjars.

This needs to be countered at the earliest to prevent exploitation of Gujjars in the name of region or religion.

''The Prasar Bharati authorities want to snub the legitimate rights of Gujjars - the third largest entity of Jammu and Kashmir -- at the cost of other languages. This is intolerable.'' Dr Rahi said they have submitted separate memorandum to President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi to lodge a protest over the Kashir Channel's failure to give due share to Gojri.

UNI