Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 15: Cautioning the Gujjars and Bakerwals of J&K about the attempt of some particular groups mainly active in Poonch, Rajouri districts and Uri, Karanah tehsils to divide our community on small ethnic lines, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF) appealed the tribe to remain united on all fronts and give a befitting reply to disintegrating forces.
Dr Javaid Rahi, secretary, TRCF while addressing a meeting of community members here stated that some people in border areas of the State are bent upon to segregate the vibrant Gujjar identity into two parts which is highly condemnable and deeply intolerable.
He said the Gujjars and Bakerwals share same history, culture, language and racial identity. Even all anthropological and genetic studies conducted on Gujjars-Bakerwals say that they are not separate identities in any ways, he added.
Recently there were some reports of division between Gujjars and Bakerwals and some non tribal groups of Poonch and Rajouri are instigating a wrong war to divide Gujjar community who form third largest group of the State after Kashmiri and Dogras and constitute more than 20 per cent population of total population of J&K.