Mann lends support to Gujjar agitation

Chandigarh, Jun 12 (UNI) The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by Simranjit Singh Mann today demanded that Gujjars should be accorded ST status as they had made immense contribution to the freedom movement and were a backward community.

The British had described the Gujjars as a 'criminal tribal community' as they fought against them during the freedom movement, Mr Mann said here.

He also demanded the immediate release of Gujjars arrested by the Rajasthan government during the agitation.

Mr Mann further claimed that the Gujjars in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand had been deprived of their grazing rights. These rights should be immediately restored as the livelihood of the Gujjars in the two hill states depended on their cattle, he added.

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