Gujjars for a new region within J-K: Survey

Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir overwhelmingly favour a separate region for the community within the state as they feel "discriminated" in the present scheme of things, a new survey has found.

Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir overwhelmingly favour a separate region for the community within the state as they feel "discriminated" in the present scheme of things, a new survey has found.

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"More than 89 per cent of Gujjars of the state voted in favour of a new Pir Panchal Gujjar region in the State as they believed they are being discriminated on every front of life", Javaid Rahi, National Secretary of Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF), which conducted the survey recently, said on Sunday.

Gujjars constitute more than 20 per cent of the population of the State.

He claimed that 1000 houses of Gujjars and Bakerwal tribe were chosen randomly and surveyed in Poonch, Rajouri, Shopian, Baramulla and Kupwara districts.

However, he said survey revealed that 61 per cent of Gujjars rejected the demand of division of the State in three parts on regional and communal lines and say trifurcation would divide the nationalist forces and strengthen anti-national elements.

He said 91 per cent also supported the demand of reservation of 20 per cent seats of State Assembly and Council as well as Parliamentary constituencies for Gujjar tribe in the state.