BJP leader and Transport Minister Abdul Gani Kohli Tuesday said he has talked to the party high command over the issue of anti-encroachment drive by Forest Department in Jammu.Talking to KNS, Kohli said, “I appraised high command over the hardships being faced by the Gujjar community in the name of drive against encroachments by Forest Department and that such measures go contrary to the BJP’s stand of communal harmony and peace in Jammu and Kashmir.”Pertinently, the former chief minister Omar Abdullah had also earlier raised the issue, saying a particular community is being targeted and harassed by the Forest department in Jammu.Kohli said that he has assured to the Gujjar community of Jammu that no such measures shall be allowed that would stir the communal harmony of the state.
Meanwhile, a number of deputations of Gujjars and Bakerwals met Kohli and apprised him about their grievance as the Forest department is “unnecessarily harassing these down trodden people and encroaching their pastures which they have acquired since many decades.”The Forest department has also demolished their kacha kothas due to which these people are homeless and wandering here and there for want of roof on their head.Even people who are migrating to Kashmir valley for grazing their cattle are being threatened by the officials of the forest department time and again.Pertinently these grazing areas have been acquired by these people since many generations.
Kohli gave patience hearing and assured these people that he will talk to party high command and even ministers in the government as the aim of the government is to bring in peace, harmony and unity among all sections of the society. He also assured on behalf of the party and government that each and every step shall be taken to safeguard the interest of these people and he along with Ch. Zulfikar Ali, Minister for CAPD & Tribal Affairs shall be meeting Chief Minister as early as possible and shall apprise Chief Minister about the prevailing situation and its solution at the earliest.