JAMMU: Lambasting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for betraying West Pakistan Refugees, MLA Udhampur Pawan Gupta on Friday said BJP has not only surrendered before its alliance partner, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but also promoting the agenda of separatists by denying citizenship rights to aforesaid refugees.
Gupta further said, “BJP under the pressure of separatist forces and at the diktats of PDP has taken a u-turn, despite its announcement of issuing domicile certificates to WPRs. They have ridiculously reduced the same to merely issuance of identity cards, thereby, depriving them from seeking central government jobs.”
Alleging that the conspiracy to dislodge WPRs was hatched by PDP in connivance with BJP, Pawan Gupta said the introduction of Land Law Amendment Bill was done to please secessionist forces in Kashmir.
While targeting BJP-PDP government for breaking ist promises under Agenda of Alliance, Pawan Gupta further alleged that BJP had joined hands with PDP to scuttle the establishment of Kashmiri Pandits and Sainik Colony in Kashmir despite repeated assurances from NC leaders that they will not oppose such move provided the plots are vested to only permanent residents of the State. Thus, the fundamental right of WPRs to live in the State has been denied to them as they were promised for issuance of domicile certificates under Agenda of Alliance, he added.
Quoting some landmark judgments of the Supreme Court, Gupta said that in Bachan Lal Kalgotra’s case, the Apex Court had directed state government to make constructive deliberations on West Pakistani Refugees’ rights of permanent residence in J&K by introducing a Bill in State Legislative Assembly. But BJP has miserably failed in doing this even after coming to power both at the Centre and the State, he alleged.
Further, in SARFAESI Act case, the Supreme Court had clearly stated that the sovereignty of the country still vests with the Parliament and the Constitution of India is Supreme and the Constitution of State is subservient to the Indian Constitution. Thus, it is high time for the people of J&K to honour the verdict of the Apex Court, Gupta stressed.
He further alleged that there is a systematic attempt from the BJP-PDP coalition government to force WPRs out of the State and settle Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistani foreign nationals in Jammu.
Gupta called upon Pradesh BJP to clear its stands on PDP’s statement related to non-issuance of domicile certificate to WPRs, otherwise, this will add to one more act of betrayal of BJP for cheating massive mandate of Jammu region, he added.