SRINAGAR: The Gujjar-Bakerwal Joint Action Committee (GBJAC) will hold a march on November 4 on foot from Baramulla to Kathua to press peacefully for the non-inclusion of upper classes into the Schedule Tribe category.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, the GBJAC said that they aren’t fighting against Paharis community but against upper castes.
Gujjar-Bakerwal Joint Action Committee was formed on Thursday in Srinagar to fight for the rights of tribals.
“The govt is conspiring to include upper caste into the schedule tribe so that it helps a particular party to win upcoming assembly election here,” GBJAC said.
GBJAC said that their demands include no ST status should be given to the upper caste along with reconstitution of Backward Commission.
“We reject GD Sharma Commission.”
GBJAC also demanded proper implementation of Forest Rights Act.
The protest march comes in the backdrop of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s J&K visit earlier this month in which he announced that Pahari community would be granted Schedule Tribe status soon on recommendations of G D Sharma commission.
Subsequently, the Jammu and Kashmir government changed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules-2005, in which words ‘Pahari Speaking People (PSP)’, have been substituted with ‘Pahari Ethnic People’.
