What has been a dormant issue for the past few decades looks to have come back with the National Conference and separatist groups politicising the humanitarian issue of grant of ‘identity certificate’ to West Pakistan refugees. No doubt BJP, the coalition partner of PDP, would be facing the brunt for not taking a tough stand over the issue. Not only the opposition but also some of the Sangh Parivar off shoots are also blasting the BJP for succumbing to separatists on the issue. Most of them were in unison on BJP’s silence against those groups which were trying to rake up trouble over the refugee issue. The working and performance of the party ministers was always under scanner. With most of the party workers sidelined by these ministers and some incidents like of ‘cash transporting’ and amassing unproportionate wealth have cast shadow over the future existence. The situation has created a ‘confidence deficiency’ overall. If the central leadership is to be believed the goal of the present NDA Government is not to enjoy power but to ensure country’s dignified place at the international level. Whereas here in Jammu and Kashmir it is the opposite of the national philosophy and hardly there is any effort to empower the common masses and providing essential facilities to the people. The central leadership has been keeping a close watch on the developments taking place in Jammu and Kashmir especially after the midnight ‘cash transfer’ controversy. Well it looks all is not well in the State BJP apparatus and if any change takes place it is the State party leaders and workers to be blamed. The West Pakistan refugees, who represented displaced Hindus and Sikhs with a majority of them being Dalits, had pinned high hopes on the BJP Government of being accorded permanent resident certificates. The party had held out such assurances and promises during elections as also in its Vision Document assuring State Subject rights to West Pakistan refugees. It looks some anger is brewing within the party cadre over the soft stand against the separatists being pursued under coalition Dharma. What is to be seen is will BJP harden its posture on the issue or will it allow diluting the same?
