J&K parties oppose residency rights to west Pak refugees

Political parties in Kashmir Valley have upped their ante against the proposed attempts of the BJP-led Centre to provide residency and voting rights to West Pakistan refugees in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), stating that such a move can alter demography of the state.

Terming the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for settling West Pakistan refugees permanently in J&K as anti-state, general secretary of National Conference (NC) Ali Mohammad Sagar alleged that such recommendations are aimed at changing the demography of J&K.

“The recommendations are unacceptable to us. It is a wicked conspiracy to change the demography of the state and to alter the special status enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir,” Sagar said while addressing party workers meetings in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

While questioning the intentions of the Centre over the issue, he said: “Different parliamentary committees have recommended return of the power projects to J&K, restoration of autonomy, and revoking the black laws like AFSPA from the state. But all governments at the centre binned these recommendations.

Now that the JPC has made recommendations for settling west Pakistan refugees, and giving them the citizenship and voting rights, the Centre seems to be in a hurry to make this happen as soon as possible.”