Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 8: The State unit of BJP ST Morcha today organized a very impressive Gujjar Sammelan at Allaha Village of Bishnah Constituency to discuss the problems facing STs, including Gujjars, Bakerwals, Gaddis and Sippis and chalk-out future programme aimed at strengthening the BJP with the involvement of STs.
Addressing the Sammelan, BJP State General Secretary (Org.) Ashok Koul said that these communities constitute more than 20 per cent of the State population but the NC-Congress Government has never considered them part and parcel of the State polity. These communities are being will fully neglected by the ruling elite in the State, they got ST status in April 1991 but they have failed to obtain their rights which are available to their counterparts across the country under the Constitution of India, he said, added that the BJP is committed to safeguarding their interests as well as interests of other neglected communities and under developed regions of the State.
State Secretary & Prabhari ST Morcha Er. Gulam Ali Khatana said that the STs and other neglected communities in the State are solidly behind the BJP as they see in the Party’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi their saviour as well as an astute politician and able administrator, who alone can help the nation achieve all round development and attain for India a rightful place in the International fora.
He demanded primitive tribe status for nomadic Gujjar-Bakerwals.
ST Morcha State president Ch. Bashir Ahmed Jagal, on this occasion, said that the Gujjars have realized that the BJP is the only political party which have been raising the concerns of this community and it is now crystal clear that BJP need to be strengthened and voted to power.
Morcha general secretary Haji Betab presented a chatter of demands.
The meeting was also addressed by BJP leaders including Sham Choudhary (MLA), Raj Singh, Suraj Padha, Bashir Ahmed Khatana, Ghulam Rubani, Feroz Din Lodha, Mohd. Yousuf, Jamat Ali Chauhan, Ch. Vika Chechi and others.
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