Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 14: Muslim Federation Jammu has demanded that Government should withdraw its alleged discriminatory and controversial order against one community.
In a meeting of the Federation members held here today under the chairmanship of Abdul Majid, president of the Federation, the speakers urged upon the State Government to withdraw its order No. 496 of 2015, dated 01-04-2015 related to colonies mainly occupied by a particular community. They claimed that these colonies have come up in last over three decades on the land holdings of the Scheduled Tribe Gujjar community whose sole profession was to supply fire wood, milk and milk products to the residents of Jammu areas.
They said many residents have built their homes here mostly because of turmoil since 1990 as Jammu is a peaceful, congenial, economically and educationally fast growing place suited to the needs of those who have come from disturbed areas of the State. The State Government in normal course ought to have a sound policy of proper settlement of this influx of people from rural areas of Jammu province searching for jobs and education. The Government failed to provide them this basic amenity and as a result the unauthorised and illegal colonies have been coming up and this process has to take natural course. Moreover, Sidara, Sunjwan and Bathindi are not the exceptional case. On huge forest land Army, Air Force, Transport yard have been settled and Qasim Nagar and Bahu Fort Colony have come up. Sidhra Golf Course is also on Forest land.
The Federation members again urged upon the State Government to withdraw this order and stop the process of demarcation of Forest, JDA, State land and suspend process of eviction from these areas. They also demanded that these colonies be regularized.
Prof Mohd Ayub, H A Siddiqi, Mohd Salim Khan, Akram Ahmed, Ch Jamat Ali, Abdul Rasheed, Parvez Ahmed Malik, Naseem Ali and others also spoke.
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