Gujjars & Bakerwals should not be harassed by Forest Department : Farooq Inqlabi

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

RAJOURI APRIL 12:–Yesterday, during an anti encroachment derive by the Officers of Forest Department in Kotaranka Sub District where many poor people belonging to Gujjar and Bakarwal Community were stopped from farming on the land occupied by them since last seventy years, while the tractors of some people were also confiscated.

Reacting on the action of forest department Senior PDP Leader Muhammad Farooq Inqlabi termed this step of the department as unnecessary and unconstitutional and said that people who have been farming on the land occupied by them for centuries and feed their children today are not allowed to farm by the forest department which is great injustice with tribal farmers.

He said that if these people are being prevented from farming, then what is the meaning of the Forest Rights Act. Farooq Inqlabi said that if these people are not farming on land then what they will eat, because the whole dependence of these poor people is on this farming. Farooq Inqlabi said that the people of Gujjar Bakarwal community have saved the forest, who are being harassed by the Forest Department today. He scolded the forest department officials and said that they should not try to apply BJP’s policies to the poor people.

Farooq Inqlabi said that if the officers of the forest department do not change their attitude, they will start a mass protest together wit the people against forest department as well as LG administration.