JAMMU: The Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday threatened to stall movement of trains between Delhi and Jammu from Wednesday as part of an agitation in solidarity with their community members in Rajasthan pressing for Scheduled Tribe status.
Addressing a press conference here, the leaders of the community said "we are launching an agitation in the state. There is no option but to join the ongoing agitation launched by Gujjars in Rajasthan for their just and reasonable cause of granting ST status to them".
"We have decided to join rail roko andolan and are going to stop rail traffic between Delhi and Jammu from tomorrow," said President of Jammu and Kashmir Gujjars United Front Mohd Anwar Chaudhary.
He said the Front was also mulling a stop to milk, mutton, vegetables and other commodities supply by Gujjars in the state to urge the central governmentt to intervene in the matter of granting ST status for Rajasthani Gujjars.
"If Gujjars of J and K and Himachal Pradesh can get the tribal status way back in nineties, why Rajasthani Gujjars were deprived?" said the leaders.
"We are one race, one tribe having same socio-economic, cultural background. So, treat us at par", Chaudhary said.
Criticising the BJP government in Rajasthan for the police firing on agitating Gujjars, the GUF state secretary Shah Mohammd asked the Vasundhara Raje administration to end "repression" against the protesters and talk to them for an amicable settlement.
