Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 23: Accusing the State Government of being discriminatory towards a particular community, the Muslim Federation Jammu has demanded immediate withdrawal of Government order number 496-GAD of 2015, dated 1-4-2015 for eviction of Forest land.
“It is very unfortunate that ever since the settlement of the Muslims in Sunjwan, Bathindi and Sidhrah areas of Jammu, some vested interests have been raising unnecessary slogans of the demographic change while the coalition Government is depicting worst type of discrimination with Jammu Muslim minority by selecting only these areas for eviction of forest land,” said the Federation in a statement.
The MFJ asked the State Government to first dis-mantle all the JDA colonies, Housing colonies and SDA colonies raised on forest land in Janipur, Roop Nager, Gandhi Nagar, Digyana and others such colonies which were raised on the forest land so as to restore the original position of the forest land in first instance. “Muslims Federations condemns the selective approach of the Coalition Government, which is contrary to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan “Sab Ka Sath sab Ka Vikas”, the MFJ added.
The Federation alleged that the Government was creating a sense of insecurity and anger among the weaker section instead of consolidating the overall socioeconomic development of the State. “The Gujjar and Bakerwal are mostly staying in the forest areas since centuries as protector of the same and even their temporary shelters are being destroyed by this coalition Government, which has no moral right to remain in power,” the MFJ said and added that removal of few encroachments from some targeted areas would not change the fate of the State unless such a drive is uniformly taken out in the entire J&K.
“If the State Government is serious towards the implementation of the Forest Conservation Act, it must start a uniform and genuine drive in the entire State, including the most ecologically fragile area in Patnitop, Sonamarg, Pehalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamerg etc,” the Muslim Federation said.
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