Gujjars demands for adequate time slat to Gojri on DD & AIR

Srinagar, October 30 (Scoop News) – Demanding adequate time slat to Gojri language, proportionate  to their population in Jammu and Kashmir,     on local stations of  All India Radio and Doordarshan the Gujjars writers today expressed a strong resentment against non-representation  of their mother tongue  in daily broadcast of various channels of AIR and DD in the State  including Kashir Chanel and DD Jammu.

Speaking in a special gathering of Gojri Writers organized   by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation here today , Dr. Javaid Rahi,Secretary told that Gojri is one of the significant languages of  India and it needs special attention and encouragement from government of India.

He said a delegation of prominent Gojri wrriters had met with Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms Abmica Soni  in Srinagar October last  and demanded that the DD Rajouri be made functional on priority and  should be declared “DD Gojri” immediately but nothing emerge concrete out of it adding that a delegation of Gojri writers will visit Delhi during December to pursue the case there.

He  said  that  centre has allocated more than Rs 400 crore  this year for DD channels in J&K but it is astonishing that DD does not telecast even a single daily programme in Gojri- the language of  Gujjars  in its 24 X 7 telecast of various DD channels in J&K .

Dr. Rahi  said the DD News Srinagar  and AIR NEWS Srinagar   does not cover the reports from remote villages and tribal population of the state in their own mother tongue. The whole area is much affected by militancy. It has therefore failed to counter the Pakistan Television (PTV) Gojri News bulletin aired daily at 4:30 pm through its powerful transmitters set up along the border.

The Gujjars and Bakerwals –the speaker of Gojri language constitute more than 20% population of the state are thus completely ignored by the DD  in J&K  and no proper representation is given to their art, culture, languages, customs and secular ethos for which they are known all over the world.

Dr Javaid Rahi, alleged that DD channels are  in no way the representative channel of all communities and tribes of J&K State. And the DD not only failed in meeting the aspiration and expectations of tribals residing in boarder belts of Jammu and Kashmir but it has also failed in its much publicized aim of countering the false and malicious propaganda of the channels from across the International borders.

Arif Sajjad said Gojri  has been given 2 per cent representation each in its 24×7 telecast of DD Kashir channel and this is humiliating even this 2 per cent representation is also not being given to us.

The other who spoke on the occasion demanded that at least one hour daily programme in Gojri should be started from DD Sringar, DD Jammu and due representation should be given to Gojri speaking people on DD Kashir.