Gujjar-Bakerwal Coordination: Press Conference Highlights Urgent Community Issues

Jammu, 28-11-2023: All J&K Gujjar-Bakerwal Organisation’s Coordination Committee held a press conference at Press Club Jammu. The Main purpose of calling this Press Conference was to inform and invite the people of the Gujjar Bakerwal Community to participate in the Maha-Panchayat being organized on 3rd December 2023, 10:00 A.M at the JDA ground opposite Director information Office near Railway Masjid Rail head complex, Jammu. In the Press Conference representatives of various Social Organisations, Social Activists and various speakers highlighted their demands and problems. The speakers in the Press Conference stressed upon the Central Government to allay the apprehensions of granting of ST status to the Non- Deserving people of J&K. While speaking in the Press Conference, the Convenor of Co-ordination  Committee  Mr. Anwar Choudhary Advocate said that by creating the issue of Grant of ST Status to So-Called Paharis, there is disenchantment among the ST people of not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in the entire country, particularly among the Gurjar Community from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. He said that the move to grant ST Status to So-Called Paharis may have some bad consequences amongst the Gurjars samaj which can result in some sort of Social Disturbance.
The Co-Convenor of the Coordination Committee Bashir Ahmed Noon lamented that though the Forest Rights Act 2006 has been promised to be implemented in the J&K Union Territory vis-à-vis the ST people, the same has not been implemented on the ground, and people of the Gurjar Bakerwal committee are continuing to be harassed and thrown out of their homes and hearts. The UT Government has been promising to allot Five Marlas of Land to the Landless people of Jammu and Kashmir but ignoring the fact that Gujjar Bakerwal has flocks of hundreds and thousands of cattle and their needs cannot be catered to by a mere Five Marlas of Land. The Govt of Jammu and Kashmir should make a suitable permanent settlement plan for the Nomads of the Gujjar Bakerwal Community.
The Speaker further alleged that instead of rehabilitating the Gujjar Bakerwals, the Authorities like the Forest Department, JDA, and other Agencies of Govt. are demolishing the houses of the ST people and uprooting them from their homes and hearts, leaving them in a larch. Mr. Jameel Choudhary and Sayeed Choudhary, the representatives of Dhodi Gujjar Community have expressed their grave concern for not allotting the land that is in their possession and rather or being deprived of their existing shelters. Pertinently, the main thrust in the Press Conference was to drop the idea of Granting  ST status to So-Called Paharis who do not deserve to be included in the list of ST as the Paharis do not carry any definition, and the same has been coined by some affluent people of Developed Communities just to dilute and make meaningless the ST status of Gujjar Bakerwal of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Speaker stressed upon the Central Govt. to reject the report of the G.D. Sharma Commission and disband the same which has worked with great partiality and biased against the Gujjar Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir. The Speakers further threatened that the misguided step of raising the issue of ST for the so-called Paharis Shall not only have certain political consequences but it shall also affect the social and economic factors in the country. The Speakers also stressed upon the Govt. and the Administration to take effective measures to check the Menace of Drugs which is badly affecting the society including the Youth of the Gujjar Bakerwal Community.
The Speaker also demanded from the Central Government that the Gojri language be included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution and also withdraw the JK Schedule Tribe Amendment Bill 2023.
The Other prominent social workers & speakers who were present in the press conference were Choudhary Talib,  Bashir Kohli, Mohd Yousaf Majnoo, Hussain Ali Wafan, Guftar Choudhary, Bilal Rashid, Shoukat Ali Corporator, ch. Razaq, Adv. Azam, Adv. Akram, Adv. Aslam Khan, Adv. Mushtaq, Shouqat Gujjar, Saleem Choudhary, Shabir Kohli, Bashir Khatana, Liaqat Ali Joda , Rahmat Ali BDC Chairman and many others.
The Press Conference concluded with an appeal to the whole Gujjar-Bakerwal community to participate in large numbers to make this Maha-Panchayat a successful and memorable event.
Anwar Choudhary