Jammu, – The Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir today stressed upon the Senior Congress Leader and sixth time legislature from Jammu region, Ch. Mohammad Aslam to quit Legislature Party Leadership as the Congress has miserably failed to induct him in cabinet as Dy. Chief Minister of 11th Assembly Jammu and Kashmir.
Hundreds of tribesman today assembled at the residence of Ch. Aslam Gujjar Leader and Gandhi Nagar, here and advised him to stay away from party’s new assignment of CLP leader as the Congress has hurt our emotions and played with our aspirations.
Later they marched towards residency road and met with Former Chief Minister and Congress Leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at his residence at Jammu and registered their protest against party’s decision.
Alleging that Congress inducted tainted faces and dropped clean slates Gujjar leader Ch. Aslam , who has rendered 50 year unblemished service for congress party, the community members have been disappointed over the non inclusion of their representative and senior most elected Congress leader in the council of ministers.
Senior most Gujjar leader and State President of Jammu and Kashmir, Gujjars Bakerwal Joint Forum Haji Shamsher Ali Boken while addressing the Gujjars in front of Former Chief Misters Azad’s residence said that and it would be humiliating for Gujjars of Jammu which "constitute more then 35 percent" of the population of Jammu region, as the Ch Aslam’s candidature is ignored on the basis of religion.
"In the earlier PDP-Congress coalition when none had objection with Ghulam Nabi Azad as the chief minister from Jammu, why should this time Choudhary’s religion come in the way," Boken said adding that The Gujjars have already asked the Congress and NC leadership not to fall into the trap of "communalizing the situation and dividing the region on these lines. But they have did it and proved its hollow slogans o0f secularism”
"The leaders who have been included in the first list of ministers by congress party have dubious characters. Many of them are tainted. But (Chaudry) Aslam is clean and sincere, the leaders said and added that Aslam has been ignored and even second timer legislatures were inducted.
Our whole community is upset and angry over the decision," said president of Gujjar United Front Mohammad Anwar Chaudry.
It may be mentioned that Choudary Aslam, a former president of JKPCC is the senior most leader among the present lot and a prominent Gujjar leader, elected from Surankote constituency of Poonch district. He had defeated NC leader and former minister Syed Mushtaq Bukhari by a margin of 2600 votes. He was till November this year a member of the Rajya Sabha. He has also been Finance Minster and Speaker of State Assembly and functioned as minister in the previous National Conference-Congress coalition. Mr. Aslam also headed the PCC for many years.