Gujjars seek Sonia Gandhi's intervention against anti-tribal Bill

By Tahir Nadeem Khan

Seeking immediate intervention of Congress President Sonia Gandhi against anti-reservation policies, the All India Gujjar Mahasabha has strongly opposed the controversial Bill move by the government to ban inter-district recruitment in the State and said the Bill is anti tribal.
In a statement issued by State President of Mahasabha, Eshfaq-ur- Rehman Poswal said the Scheduled Tribes constitute over 20 per cent of the population and this Bill will directly hit their interests. Hence he said we have sought intervention of Sonia Gandhi as the Bill will definitely jeopardize the avenues of employment available to ST population of the State.
Poswal further said they will launch a statewide crusade against the Bill adding that banning of inter district recruitment would elbow out the Gujjars in over all competition of employments.
He said the Bill is against the spirit of the Constitution and contrary to the laws of reservations as lay down in Indian constitution for those who are otherwise neglected.
He said in past thousand of vacancies were de-reserved due to non availability of candidate but with opening of inter district recruitment ST candidates were applying everywhere in the State but now the anti-reservation forces were bent upon to grab our rights by introducing banning inter district recruitment Bill.
He further said that we demand that the present system of recruitment to continue. e asked all 12 tribal communities to unite against the anti-reservation Bill.
Poswal also made an appeal to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to seek his favor to bring to an end to anti tribal Bill.