Lashing out at successive governments for "discriminating" with the Gaddis and Sippis in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP on Wednesday demanded special status for the community in the state.
"We demand special status for the Gaddis and Sippis community of Jammu and Kashmir. They are being discriminated against by successive governments," senior BJP leader and member of BJP national executive Dr Nirmal Singh told reporters here today.
Singh said there is about 2.5 lakh population of Gaddis and Sippis living in different areas of Jammu Province, including Basholi, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri and Poonch but despite falling under Scheduled Tribes category and they are not being treated on par with the Gujjars and Bakerwals of the state.
Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar Advisory Board is giving all benefits to the members of Gujjar and Bakerwal community as they represent majority in the state, whereas Gaddis and Sippis, being the members of minority community, have always been neglected and deprived of their rights, he said.