Jammu, March 13 (Scoop News) -Demanding adequate time slat to Gojri language, proportionate to their population, on All India Radio and Doordarshan the Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir 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 meeting of Gojri Writers organized by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation here, Dr. Javaid Rahi, National Secretary told that Gojri is one of the significant languages of India and it needs special attention and encouragement form 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 their.
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.