STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Separatists on Wednesday objected to the reported move by the Jammu and Kashmir government to give domicile certificates to West Pakistan refugees, saying it was an attempt to change the demography of the state.
The separatists slammed the ruling PDP over the issue and called for statewide protests and demonstrations on Friday.
“These are manoeuvers to change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir,” said a joint statement issued by hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani, moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik.
They were reacting to reports in local media that the state government, on the instructions of the Centre, will issue domicile certificates to West Pakistan refugees as they were facing difficulty in getting jobs in Central government.
“Issuing domicile certificates to West Pakistan refugees, (Supreme) court verdict challenging the sovereignty of Jammu and Kashmir and allowing outside banks to confiscate and hold properties in the state are the issues of life and death for our existence as Muslims and Kashmiris,” the separatists said.
They said they were not against the rehabilitation of these refugees and fully support their every demand on humanitarian grounds and urge the government to provide them all the rights they are eligible to.
“India is a huge country with more than 30 states and if they are sincere, honest and feel the sufferings of these refugees, they can settle them in any of their states. But settling them in a disputed land of Jammu and Kashmir will jeopardize and erode its historical and political contours, which is not acceptable to us at any cost,” they added.
“PDP has started showing its true colors by initiating the process of creeping slowly and deceitfully towards the Hindutva agenda of its coalition partners,” they added.
