TRCF condemn police action against Gujjars in Rajasthan

Srinagar, May 24 (UNI) The Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF) today strongly condemned police action against Gujjars in Rajasthan yesterday.

Demanding intervention from UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Mahmohan Singh, TRCF General Secretary Javaid Rahi said the killing of 18 innocent Gujjars by the Rajasthan police was shocking.

Dr Rahi said the Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir would extend moral and ethical support to the Gujjars of Rajasthan, who had been fighting for their ''Tribal identity'' and legitimate rights for the grant of ''Scheduled Tribe Status''.

He also said if the State of Rajasthan failed to redress the grievances of their community, they would march in large numbers to that State.

TRCF, a national organisation on Tribal Rights also appealed to the Gujjars of all the northern states for peaceful agitation, rallies and demonstrations in support of their Rajasthan counterparts.

Dr Rahi said the government should act before it was too late, as the agitation could take a dangerous turn.

He added the Scheduled Tribe Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and the non-ST Gujjars of Rajasthan were of the same race, having similar historical background and were sharing the same socio-economic problems.

However, he said the Gujjars of Rajasthan had been deprived of this ''fundamental right''.

The TRCF General Secretary had appealed to the socio-political organisations, working for the uplift of the suppressed and marginalised communities to come forward and ''rescue'' the Gujjars of Rajasthan.

UNI BAS YSS SBC KP1527