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Gujjars, Bakerwals being selectively targetted in Jammu: Mehbooba

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 1/21/2019 12:59:07 PM

SRINAGAR, Jan 20: Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today said the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities are being "selectively targeted" in the Jammu region.
Addressing a press conference here, she warned that if the issue was not addressed by the Governor S P Malik-led administration, the consequences would be "dangerous".
Mehbooba hailed the role of Jammuites during the mass migration of Pandits and Muslims after the eruption of militancy in Kashmir in 1990s. "They opened the doors of their houses and accommodated the migrants and every time foiled attempts to disturb the communal brotherhood there," she said.
PDP president added that during the last assembly elections when BJP got big mandate from Jammu, the Muslims there became concerned about their safety." Our joining hands with BJP to form the government was also to address their concerns," she said.
Mehbooba added that during her tenure she wanted to make a law regarding forest land so that the Gujjars and Bakerwals are not harassed in the name of ending encroachments. "Because of BJP's opposition the law could not be made but I passed an order directing that Gujjars and Bakerwals should not be disturbed till the forest act is not made," she said.
"Unfortunately now under the Governor's nose, there is selective targeting of Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu and the governor's administration is not taking note of it," Mehbooba said.
The former chief minister said she had raised the matter with the governor after some houses of Gujjars and Bakerwals were "selectively" served eviction notices in the name of encroachment, immediately after the PDP-BJP government in the state collapsed in June last year.
"The governor gave me an assurance that those (houses) will not be touched, especially in the winter months. (But) they are being harassed in the name of encroachment and also in the name of bovine smuggling," she said.
The PDP president also alleged that the Muslims living in the Jammu region were being threatened of a 1947-like situation, when communal riots had taken place.
"The rates of the areas where Muslims live are being increased. Muslim areas are being brought under the municipality so that construction (of houses) is made difficult,” she said, adding, "Similarly, Muslims living in Jammu are being threatened of a 1947-like situation. There are some fanatic elements who are organising programmes to threaten Muslims, especially those from the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, who are the oldest residents of the Jammu region."
Stating that the Muslims of Jammu were feeling vulnerable, Mehbooba said she had hoped that after the governor's assurance, such things would stop.
"If the governor's administration does not handle the fragile situation, then its consequences would be dangerous for the state," she added.
Without naming anyone, Mehbooba said there were some powers in Jammu that were trying to instill a sense of fear among the minorities -- like in the case of alleged rape of a minor Bakerwal girl in Kathua last year.
Asked about the governor's recent remarks that except the PDP, all other parties were ready for assembly polls in the state, Mehbooba said "we are ready for elections anytime".
Responding to a question on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Ram Madhav's statement that the saffron party had identified places for separate townships for Kashmiri Pandits, the PDP chief said her party would not allow "ghettoisation of minorities" in the state.