Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 31: Bharatiya Gujjar Mahasabha (BGM) today sat on 24-hour hunger strike outside Raj Bhawan to protest against alleged embezzlement of funds in schemes meant for the welfare of Gujjars and Bakerwals.
Members of Gujjar and Bakerwal communities drawn from different areas of the State participated in the hunger strike.
Addressing the protesters, BGM president Ehsfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal alleged that due to misappropriation of funds since 1991, the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities were still backward and deprived of basic amenities.
“We have been left with no option but to choose agitational path to draw attention of the Government”, he said and added that these communities were granted ST status way back in 1991 but so far despite plethora of welfare schemes, these communities are still backward like they were 22 years earlier.
Poswal demanded that a high level commission under a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge should be constituted to probe large scale misappropriation of funds in all these years and guilty should be brought to book.
“The funds meant for ST communities have been stalled by the Central Government as the State Government is not implementing the guidelines as laid down by the Planning Commission of India”, he added.
“We have been demanding creation of Administrative department of Tribal Affairs for proportionate utilisation of funds in all 22 districts, 82 tehsil and 142 blocks of the State”, he said.
“We have been demanding middle pass recruitment since long as youth of these communities can not pursue higher studies,” he said and added, “But the Government is least bothered and the people are left with no option but to come on roads in support of their demands on the eve of new year to draw attention of the Government.”
The protests will continue in all districts of the state also and in Poonch, 48-hour hunger strike will be observed on January 13, said the Gujjar leader.
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