Jammu/Srinagar,September 5 (Scoop News) -In a major initiative, the Scheduled Tribe Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir today offered their full support to Jat community of State in their current struggle for grant of Other Backward Class (OBC) status subject to the condition if their (Jat) community residing in other states of India is ready to support the ongoing Gujjar movements in different States for Tribal identity including the State of Rajasthan where Gujjars are struggling hard for grant of ST status since last 63 years.
In a letter addressed to different Jat Organizations and community leaders sent through Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation –a frontal organization of Gujjars in J&K , the Gujjars of the state asked Jat community to come forward in response to our offer for a United Gujjar-Jat struggle front over the issues pertaining to both communities residing together in 12 states of India.
Giving details Dr.Javaid Rahi, Secretary Tribal Foundation said we are ready to join OBC struggle of Jat if they moblize their community in Gujjar struggle for Tribal status going in different state including in Rajasthan. He said we have wrote to both Gujjars and Jat leaders and organizationstoins working for social upliftment to unite on one stand to take up all ongoing struggles jointly till theirs logical end. Dr. Javaid also asked both community of the state to revive pre-1947 relations and renew Gujjar-Jat Conference which was the leading organization and United Platform of Gujjars and Jats in state before partition.
The letter reads In J&K Muslim Gujjars (ST ) constitutes more than 20% of total population of the state which can play a key role in Jats struggle for grant of OBC status. The letter further said we (Gujjars and Jats) are one and there are hundreds of examples of cross-community Muslim Gujjar- Muslim Jat marriages in State of J&K which are very popular among both communities of twin border district of Rajouri Poonch as there is a good chunk Muslim Jats population are living together with Gujjars in hilly areas of J&K .In J&K there are lakhs of Hindu and Sikh Jats are also residing alongside the Gujjars inhabitants and both communites share many commonalties.
The letter further reads that the Gujjars of Rajasthan are struggling hard for grant Scheduled Tribe (ST ) status and around one 71 people of Gujjar tribe were killed in this historic struggle, the Jats should come forward and support Gujjars in their struggle.
The letter further reads historically, culturally and socially Gujjars and Jats share many similarities and now its need of the hour that we should join hands together for a united struggle for rights of both communities .The Gujjars and Jats together can do wanders in changing social scenario of India, the letter said
