JampK Gujjars boycott DD#039s music festival to protest neglect

10 Feb, 2009 - 11:15 AM IST     |     By RnMTeam

MUMBAI: To protest against Doordarshan&aposs alleged neglect of their community and language Gojri, the Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir have boycotted DD Kashmir&aposs five day music festival commencing here today.

"The Gujjars of the state have boycotted the 5-day long music festival organised by DD Kashmir in protest against discriminatory functioning of its various channels towards them," National Secretary of Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, Dr Javed Rahi told reporters here today.

He said none of the three channels of DD in Kashmir - DD Kashmir, DD Srinagar and DD Jammu - give proper representation to the art, culture, language, customs and secular ethos of the Gujjars, who comprise 20 per cent of the state&aposs population.