Gujjars no more nomads: PPM

Demand GoI to constitute commission for cross check

Terming only Bakerwals as nomads, Jammu & Kashmir Pahari Peoples Movement (PPM) Chief Executive Shahbaz Khan has said that Gujjars have remained no more as nomads and Government of India should constitute a commission to cross check the fact and should scrap scheduled tribe status from them. In a press statement issued here, Shahbaz Khan said that Gujjars are no more nomads and they are enjoying scheduled tribe status on the apathy of Bakerwals. He said that Bakerwals are deserved for ST status and other facilities and there is need for the upliftment of the community. “We support Bakerwals and will always demand good for them but it is injustice that all the shares of Bakerwals are being taken by the Gujjars without any justification”, he said adding that when Gujjars have remained no more a nomads, there is no justification of continuing scheduled tribe status to the. “We demand to scrap this status from Gujjars on the reason of the ground reality”, he said demanding a constitution of commission to check the socio-economic status of Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir state. “Gujjars are governing the state of Jammu & Kashmir. There are thousands of Gujjar officers in the services. They have thousands of Kanal land on their names. They have build castles in Jammu and Srinagar Cities and not even a single family of Gujjar is moving from one place to another”, he said adding “How we can say them nomad which they have not”. However Khan said that Bakerwal are still nomad and they deserve every help from government. Condemning statement of some ‘frustrated’ Gujjars regarding ST status of Paharies, Shahbaz Khan said that such anti-social elements in Gujjar community are bent upon to bring Gujjars and Paharies at cross road of enmity and Centre government should be responsible for any ugly turn. He added that Paharies are demanding ST status for the last 20 years and it must be given to them at the earliest. “We can go up to any extent for getting justice and due share from government”, Khan said.