Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR Aug 25: The International Gujjar Mahasabha today demanded fulfilment of long pending demands of the Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir.
Requests for a scout battalion for Gujjar and Bakerwal, as well as the giving of official language status to Gojri and the building of a Gujjar Bhawan in Srinagar, were raised during a news conference at the Press Club here.
As per the spokesperson of the organization, the necessity to address these issues was felt by the leaders during their visit to the border area. He said they are nationalists who have stood with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir against any threat of armed revolt or anti-national movements and have suffered greatly as a result. “Keeping in view all our sacrifices scout battalions for Gujjar and Bakerwal of JK’s border areas should be granted,” he said.
He also demanded that the Gojri language be recognized as an official one. “Gojri may be awarded official status because it is a rich language spoken by Gujjars in J&K and many other states,” he said.
He claimed that people living in border villages in the Karnah Bowl and Uri sector should be issued an actual Line of Control certificate, as various border villages in Uri and Karnah, are located on the frontlines of borders and are subjected to frequent cross-border firing at the line of control.
“The frequent firing results in loss of life, limb, livestock, property, and crops, as well as being subjected to a disproportionate amount of violence. As a result, it is necessary to notify the border settlements of Uri and Karnah,” he said.
He further said that the Gujjars live on the outskirts of the Valley, among hills and forests, in far-flung border districts like Uri and Karnah, which are remote from Srinagar and are cut off for six months during the winter due to blocking of mountain passes.
“Our people endure huge hardships when they travel to Srinagar for any purpose, such as treatment at the Tertiary Hospital, the Civil Secretariat or the High Court of Srinagar. They travel to Srinagar early in the morning and return late at night. Our people cannot afford it because most of them are poor,” he said.
Other demands mentioned in the press conference were jobs for porters’ relatives, a focus on the girl education, Sadhna tunnel up-gradation, Bangus valley development, Nomadic Bakarwal Gujar settlement plan, and an animal movement control guidance Centre.
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