By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Jammu (J&K): Communal harmony is the first casualty of the ongoing Amarnath Shrine land row as Muslim Gujjars in Jammu have been attacked during the agitations by the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti in the wake of the state government’s decision to withdraw land to the shrine.
The attacks on Muslim Gujjars were carried out despite Gujjars’ proved nationalism and dedicated love for the shrine over decades. This has marred the old harmonial relations between Jammu Muslim Gujjars and Hindu community there.
And this has shocked Ashfaqur Rahman Poswal, president of Akhil Bharatiya Gujjar Mahasabha, Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to TwoCircles.net Ashfaqur Rahman Poswal said: “Jammu Gujjar Muslims have always been nationalist, supported Army and have devoutly worked for the Amarnath pilgrimage and Vaishnav Devi yatra. Yet they were attacked during the ongoing agitations over Amarnath Shrine land dispute.”
They were targeted during bandh call by the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti and their properties were damaged, said Poswal adding that the Samiti should have announced that no community should be harmed. There are only Muslim Gujjars, no Hindu Gujjars, in Jammu and they were singled out to attack.
What is the ground situation today? “Today Muslim Gujjars are frightened. They have packed themselves in their homes fearing anytime one can attack them. They are not going to work,” said Poswal adding that roads are blocked and supplies and essentials are not reaching most of Jammu area.
Sensing the worsening situation the UPA government at the Centre called an all-party meeting two days back and decided to send an all-party team to Jammu on August 9.
Ashfaqur Rahman Poswal said he will meet the team from Delhi and demand compensation for the damage to the Jammu Muslim Gujjars. “We will meet the all party team coming from Delhi and we will demand to form an enquiry to assess the economic damage done to Gujjars. We want that Government of India or the state government should announce relief and compensation package for the the Muslim Gujjars,” said Poswal.
He said as his community has always opposed militancy, he would not like separatists get benefit out of the situation. He appreciated the role of the Army for not using force during the agitations.
Meanwhile some Hindu Gujjar leaders from across the country have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil urging them to take immediate steps to save Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir.
The leaders have expressed solidarity with the Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir and sought the central government’s intervention “to protect the life and property of the Nomadic Muslim Gujjars of Jammu region who are facing adversities and hardships as more than 100 houses of the tribal group set afire by protesters in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts during 38-day-long agitation over the land row.”
The Gujjar leaders appealed to majority community of Jammu region to identify those communal elements that are responsible for attacking on our tribe and they should be punished.
They said that Government of Jammu and Kashmir miserably failed to provide security to Muslim Gujjars of the region. “Our people are shelterless in many areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua. Even more than 100 families are waiting for a relief and rehabilitation package,” the memorandum said.
The Gujjar leaders including Conl. Karori Singh Bainsala, Sachin Pilot MP, and Ashok Badhana (Himachal Paresh) have appealed to majority community in Jammu to provide safety to Gujjars of Jammu region and ensure their safety and security on priority.
Social activist Balraj Puri of People Union for Civil liberties (J&K State) has appealed to the all party delegation visiting Jammu on August 9 to consider the long term causes of regional tensions and recommended constitutional guarantees for equitable share in political power to the three regions of the state be instituted.