Srinagar: The members of tribal Gujjar community Friday announced that they will organize a ‘Maha Panchayat’ on September 10 in Srinagar in opposition to any future action of the central government to reintroduce the J&K Schedule Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill.
Community members, who had assembled at Srinagar’s Press Enclave, said the leaders representing Tribal and Gujjar communities from across India will be reaching Srinagar to participate in the Maha Panchayat.
“We have apprehensions that after submitting the bill for review during the 2nd phase of the monsoon session on J&K in the Parliament, the central government may reintroduce the same during the winter session. To oppose any such move, the tribal community of J&K has decided to hold Maha Panchayat in Srinagar on September 10,” Talib Hussain, a tribal leader, told reporters.
“We have decided to organize (Jirgae Azeem) Maha Panchayat in Srinagar on September 10. Leaders from Gujjar and tribal communities from across India will participate in the Jirga in Srinagar to oppose any future action of the government,” he said, adding Maha Panchayat will be organized in other districts of Jammu and Kashmir as well.
“We appeal to the center not to force us to hit the streets yet again. Any attempt to reintroduce the J&K Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill will be opposed tooth and nail,” he warned.
