Leaders of All Tribal Coordination Committee (ATCC) today asked PDP-BJP government to clear its stand on alleged discrimination and harassment of the Gujjaras and Bakarwals in Jammu province.
Addressing a conference here, chairman of All Tribal Coordination Committee Talib Hussain and vice chairman Nazakat Khatana accused BJP of harassing Gujjaras and Bakarwals and alleged that the collation government had miserably failed to protect interests of Gujjaras and Bakarwals living in Jammu province especially in Samba Kathua and Jammu districts.
After the conference participants took out a protest rally at Maitra. They demanded that forest land act be enacted in the state and forcible occupation of private land in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts be stopped.
They alleged that nomads living in these districts are being harassed in these districts at the behest of politicians in these districts while fencing the forest area.
They demanded that JDA in the name of retrieved Jammu Development Authority (JDA) land and Flood Control Department Jammu are also harassing tribal nomads in the name of retrieving tribal land under the occupation of nomad Gujjars and Bakarwals.
The speakers alleged that directions of Supreme Court are being violated in reservation and promotions to the members of the community serving in government departments.
They alleged that the collation government which considers itself the people friendly government is not settling the issues of tribal communities and Gujjars and Bakarwals feel disparity in all spheres of life. They advised state government not to take the issue lightly as Gujjars and Bakarwals would fight against harassment being meted to them.
Choudary Farooq Khyal, Wajid Ali and many other local leaders also spoke on the occasion.