Ishfaq –ur-Rehman Poswal, BJP leader and national executive member ST Morcha Monday urged Chief of Army staff Gen Bipin Rawat to organize a special recruitment drive for ‘Gujjar and Bakerwal youths’ in the country and raise a ‘Gujjar regiment’ in fight against Pakistan backed militants and anti-India extremist forces particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
“In absence of jobs, these youths (many of them living close to the borders) are vulnerable to fall in evil trap of militants, who have been luring and engaging them as their OGWS to create disturbance and spread menace of drug trafficking or narco-terrorism in the country,” Poswal said in a letter written to army chief.
“Last month police established Pakistan’s role in spreading “narco-terrorism” in the strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir after six accused persons were caught transporting drugs valued at millions of rupees from across the border in Kupwara district. I urge you to organize a special recruitment drive in army for Gujjar youths under the title “Gujjar Regiment” so that youths of this ignored community are offered a chance to fight against militants and anti-India forces in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
The BJP leader said a large population of people living in remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir (Including Gujjar and Bakerwals community members) have least or never participated in any violence related activity like stone throwing or anti-India protests during two decades of turmoil in the state.
“However most of these people do not have any permanent source of income and also lack other means of sustenance. In such a worsening scenario, I humbly submit to you that a general recruitment drive in army should be organized in these specified areas to engage large number of educated but jobless youths in army so that their youthful energy is utilized in a positive way and more significantly for nation building and strengthening peace in the region,” he said.
Poswal said the educational qualification for ST youths in army recruitment should be Middle pass and for general category (open merit) it should be Matric (10th) pass. “A large number of Gujjar and Bakerwal youths in Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir should also be offered an opportunity to try their luck in armed forces particularly army,” he said
“Sardar Vallabahi Patel, a Gujjar community member was the first union home minister of India. His contributions in strengthening India’s security cannot be overlooked. Significantly late Patel had a very strong policy on strengthening peace and security in Kashmir. I hope the Gujjar youths would be offered a chance to join the army and demonstrate their skills in fight against anti-national forces,” he added.