Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Dec 19: Shamsher Hakla Poonchi a prominent Gujjar leader and intellectual of the State today said that the problems and needs of Gujjars and Bakarwals are quite different from other communities of the State.
In a statement issued here, he said, language and culture of Gujjar Bakarwal community is also different than those of other communities of the State and that is why this community has its own peculiar position and distinct identity.
He said Gujjar Bakarwal community mostly resides in far flung hilly areas near forests and on the Line of Control (LoC). The Gujjars & Bakarwals of J&K are still socially, educationally, economically & politically backward and are lagging behind, he added.
Hakla said that on 19th April 1991 the Government of India while recognizing the backwardness of Gujjar Bakarwal community of Jammu And Kashmir State declared them as Scheduled Tribe. But all the efforts made by Central Government for the development of Gujjar Bakarwal community of the State, have been deliberately obstructed by the State Government. Hakla said that keeping this in view and to ensure the all round development of Gujjar & Bakarwal community of J&K State who though are Muslims by religion have always stood as true nationalists and challenged the separatist forces since 1947 be given a separate State under the name of “Gujjarsthan” which must be created, under the Constitution of India.
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