JK body seeks economic package

JUMMU: The Gujjar community of Jammu and Kashmir today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to announce a special economic and political package for the upliftment of Gujjar tribe of the state.
    
State president of Akhil Bhartiya Gujjar Mahasabha, Ishfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal, told reporters that Prime Minister should come out with a package for their community as there are about two lakh nomad Gujjars and Bakerwals, living without shelter and were eagerly waiting for a rehabilitation package.
    
Expressing astonishment, he said there is no mention of Gujjars including the SC/ST communities in the recommendations of the four working groups and there is no incentive for the SC and ST in two packages of Prime Minister announced for the state.
    
He alleged, Gujjars were being discriminated by the state since 1947, and added that the ST status granted way back in 1991 "failed" to provide the constitutional safeguards to Gujjars.
      
Stating Gujjars were victims of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment, the Gujjar leader said they deserve political reservation in both the Houses of state legislature, which he said was being delayed and sought PM's intervention.
    
He said that Gujjars opposed demand of ST status by Pahari speaking people of the state and warned the Centre against any move to dilute the tribal status.