“The demolition drive against Gujjars and Bakerwal’s in Jammu is a reflection of sustained targeting of minorities under this dispensation” Former Minister and senior vice president Peoples Conference Abdul Gani Vakil Wednesday lambasted the LG administration for targeting sub-minorities in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Vakil said on one side the government is claiming to empower the Scheduled tribes and Scheduled castes through different electoral processes and programs but on the other side continues to witch hunt them on different pretexts.
He said that the current administration is adding to the miseries rather than addressing them. “Instead of winning over the hearts of people by addressing their miseries, this government is doing everything possible to further alienate them.”
Vakil stressed on the government to stop witch-hunting Gujjars & Bakerwals and allow them to live in dignity.
Gujjar and Bakerwal’s of Kashmir
Gujjars are all over India. It is not only Muslims who are Gujjars, Hindus also belong to Gujjars and tribal castes. It is a nomadic tribe, dependent on livestock and farming.
The population of Gujarat in India is more than 7.5 million and the rate of Gujarat among the listed castes and tribes is 70%. When Section 370 was removed, people openly said that people would now be evicted, on which the government explained that people should not listen to rumors.
The government had launched a campaign to demolish the temporary homes of tribal families living on forest land. Apparently, all this is being done under the Federal Law Forest Rights Act, but there is a lot of resentment in Kashmir in this regard.
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