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| Leaders backing hatred behind the curtain | | Shamsher takes strong exception to misinformation campaign | |
SHAFIQ MIR
Rajouri, Jan 9- Though the Gujjar- Pahari divide is not something new in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, but with the latest events, the situation seems to have turned alarming and can take an ugly shape any time if the hatred statements issued from both the sides are not controlled by the leaders of both the communities.
The divide and hatred between the two communities came to light in the past three days when some second line leaders of both the communities flashed statements against each other in the media. On Friday, a lesser known Gujjar leader Shamsher Ali Boken appeared in media threatening that the Gujjars of the state would oppose any move of the government favoring Scheduled Tribe status for the Pahari community of the state. And even he threatened to launch an agitation if the Pahari community is included in the list of Scheduled Tribe communities in the country.
Reacting over the statement, Jammu Kashmir Pahari People’s Movement leader Shahbaz Khan today said that the Gujjars of the state are no more nomads and the ST status granted to them should be scraped. This came in media otherwise the situation is much worst on ground. Interestingly, the front runner leadership of both the sides is silent over the statements issued by their subordinates that too in the name of communities. Sources said, this all was being done at the behest of the senior leaders of both the communities working behind the curtain.
In fact, the hatred between both the communities started in 1990 when the central government granted ST status to the Gujjars of the state arguing that they were the most deprived community in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the Pahari community in the state is of the opinion that the ST status was granted to the Gujjars with out making any grass root survey because the Paharies of the state have also similar life style and sources of income and geographical conditions they live in. Since 1990, the Paharies geared up their campaign and managed some Pahari hostels for the community students out of the social welfare department of the state and succeeded to get an advisory board constituted by the state government. However, so far the Paharies have failed to convince the central policy makers and leadership regarding their tribal identity and back ground. Though the Pahari movement has not reached on any logical end so far, but the Gujjars of the state have started open opposition of the demand apprehending that if the Paharies are considered they will be accommodated in the 10% share of Gujjars .
Observers are of the opinion that if the hatred campaign launched by some leaders from both the sides is not controlled by the influential community leaders it can take an ugly shape any time. Expressing his concern over the deepening distance between the two communities, Moulana Ameer Mohammad Shamsi said that the situation needs to be dealt at earliest as some forces are bent to add fuel to the fire. He said this is nothing but a conspiracy of some unseen hands to keep the particular community divided in many groups.
Strongly objecting to the misinformation campaign launched by the Pahari Forum against the Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir, the Gujjar and Bakerwal Joint Front today urged the government to ban all such organizations publishing provocative material against the Gujjars. Shamsher Ali Boken State President of JKGBJF has described the statement of PPM regarding Gujjars published in a section of press as unreasonable, illogical and politically motivated.
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