Pic: Omar Asif
KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
The Gujjars, state’s main Scheduled Tribes, have urged the government to come up with a strict law that toughens norms for purchase of land owned by tribals near big cities and towns.
The community members stated that the influential land mafia and other agencies must be stopped immediately who are active in various districts of Jammu division and pressurising Gujjars to sell their ancestral lands to them for their big projects.
The community members were speaking in a programme organised by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation in Rajouri to discuss problems being faced by tribal communities. Dr Javaid Rahi presided over the meeting.
Dr Javaid Rahi stated a law is required immediately to prevent tribal from land mafia which are active to purchase the land owned by Gujjars residing near cities, towns for non tribal groups or agencies. The law must make consent of Jirga mandatory for land acquisition even by the government for its use. This, he said, is important to safeguard their livelihood, tribal identity and culture.
