Mixed reaction to Domicile notification
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 19: There has been mixed reaction to the new Domicile notification issued by UT Government yesterday while Congress, National Conference, CPI(M), JK Apni Party and Peoples Conference opposed the notification, BJP, PoJK refugees, West Pak refugees, Kashmiri Pandit organisations, Dogra Brahman Sabha and other organisations welcomed the decision and complimented the Union Government for the same.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has said that Domicile Law has opened flood gates for outsiders and enabled large number of outside residents to avail and share all the rights at par with original natives and residents of Jammu and Kashmir, contrary to repeated claims and assurances, during and post abrogation of Special Status.
In a statement JKPCC chief, G.A. Mir termed it a betrayal with the people especially youth of J and K, who were promised complete protection of rights to jobs and land, even post abrogation of Article 370.
The ruling BJP time and again mislead and befooled those who opposed the abrogation of special status to allow the outside people to become eligible for all limited Government jobs and land as well all other resources, hitherto availed by the locals of J and K. The Government Authorities and BJP leaders would always assure the people that their all such rights shall stand protected, which came out to be false and fake. G.A. Mir added.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) vehemently opposed Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Order, 2020 and Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules 2020.
In a statement released to press, the Party has stated that both the S.O 1229 (E) Domicile law and S.O 166 prescribing the procedure for grant of Domicile Certificate are made in exercise of power under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019, challenged in number of petitions before the Supreme Court, the hearing before the Constitution Bench has commenced and is proceeding ahead. It is stated that with the Constitutional validity of the Act impugned and the petitions under consideration of the Court, the Government of India in tune with the universally accepted principle of “Constitutional proprietary”, is under an obligation to desist from exercising powers under the impugned Act including the power to promulgate Domicile Law and Rules in question.
Former Minister Mula Ram and DCC rural president Hari Singh Chib have expressed their resentment against the Government for issuing fresh Domicile notification amid COVID-19 scarce terming it as bluff with youth of J&K. they said the youth of J&K have been befooled again with this notification.
CPI (M) while opposing the Domicile Law said at a time when the people are seriously concerned about the spread of the Corona Virus ,the BJP Government is busy in redesigning the “Union Territory” of Jammu and Kashmir. The fresh domicile notification issued yesterday, while the region is under the grip of deadly COVID-19 pandemic, is extension of the unconstitutional and undemocratic assault carried out by the BJP Government on August 5 ,2019, it added.
The party in a handout issued here said issuing the rules for domicile notification at this crucial time reveals a paranoid mindset of the BJP wilfully violating the democratic aspirations of the people. Until Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its special status granted under Article 370 and bifurcated into two union territories last August, article 35A of the Constitution empowered the Assembly to define Jammu and Kashmir residents eligible to apply for jobs or own immovable property in the erstwhile State. The Modi Government clearly lacks an institutional view and suffers from conceptual disarray, which makes it blind with regard to the essence of Constitutional commitments when it comes to it dealing with Jammu and Kashmir, it added.
Well known writer and intellectual Dr K N Pandita has complimented the Union Government for the notification. In a letter to Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, Dr Pandita he complimented him on behalf of KP community on this historical decision taken by Government.
The letter said “In you we have strongest voice at the PMO and other levels and in the administration. No leader is better informed about the Pandits exodus and problems than you. We are beholden to you and we promise to be at your beck and call whenever you need our support and service’’, the letter added.
Senior BJP leader and former State president of the party, Ashok Khajuria termed the new Domicile notification a bold and dynamic decision of the BJP led Union Government. He said the BJP led by Narendra Modi showed guts in ending over 70 year old discrimination with nationalist people in J&K and giving a strong blow to secessionist and anti national forces. Khajuria lambasted Congress and NC for opposing the domicile notification and alleged that the people of J&K suffered over 70 years due to their wrong policies.
All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), under the presidentship of Advocate Ravinder Raina, expressed satisfaction over the recent orders on domicile rules, issued by the Government yesterday, which satisfactorily addressed the issues concerning the domicile status of the exiled Kashmiri Pandit community. ASKPC, along with other organizations had raised the issue of some lacunae in the domicile notification, which would have kept a large section of the original residents out of purview of the domicile status, it said in a statement issued here.
Advocate Ravinder Raina along with Dr T.K. Bhat, general secretary and the whole Executive Body conveyed their gratitude to the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Lieutenant Governor of J&K UT, for the timely redressal of the issue and rectifying the Domicile Law. The KP community feels elated and the Central Governments handling of the issue has re-kindled the feeling that the present Government at the Centre & UT is sensitive & receptive to the other issues facing the community.
Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) termed framing of new Jammu and Kashmir Domicile rules as inappropriate and untimely in absence of a popular Government in J&K.
In a statement issued here, a spokesman of JKAP said the new rules have been framed at a time when the whole country especially Jammu and Kashmir is battling to reduce the number of deaths caused due to COVID pandemic.
“The timing of framing of these important rules is not only inappropriate but grossly unethical. There is no popular, elected Government in place in J&K wherein the legislature could have thoroughly been discussed and deliberated upon eligibility criteria for availing domicile credentials,” the JKAP spokesman added.
The MPOK Refugees Welfare Society, Punjab hailed the decision of the Government of J&K UT for issuing domicile to the POK families, Kashmiri migrants settled outside J&K which were also eligible for domicile but left out inadvertently. Although it took a long time but still not late “We strongly appreciate all the concerned quarters who helped the Government to decide it positively . Further it is hoped that all the problems in implementation of the decision will be solved without any delay by the Government .The details of this Order should be given a wide publicity through print and electronic media .
Movement for Justice for Refugees of 1947 from PoJK [MJR-47] held a online meeting today to discuss the issue regarding “PoK families, Kashmiri migrants settled outside J&K eligible for a domicile in J&K”. The order as such is highly welcomed, a step by UT Government to grant domicile i.e. State Subject status to all our DPs who had been settled outside the state after 1947.
DPs of 1947 from PoJK extend their gratitude to the present BJP dispensation in the Union Government to have fulfilled their another long-pending demand and granted all the rights to those 5,300 DPs who, then in 1947, after their displacement in 1947 due to the Tribal raid on the State has been sheltered outside the State in other refugee camps. But unfortunately, due to hard economic conditions, they couldn’t come back and kept living there only till date. All the previous State as well as Central Governments. dispensations had not given them justice and kept their R&R pending till date for the last seven decades.
Beside J.S. Sudan, convener, S. Suchwant Singh, chief spokesman, O.P. Khajuria, Dalip Singh, Madan Lal, and Grp. Capt. H.S. Soodan participated in the discussion.
“The new Domicile rules gazetted in J&K will bring justice to lakhs of people denied since 1947. This landmark step will extend long due fundamental rights to all refugees including West Pakistan refugees along with women’s of J&K and SC workers settled in the UT from rest of the country”, said BJP J&K general secretary, Vibodh Gupta in a statement here, today.
Residents of various areas of Dogra Hall Ward No. 8 Jammu including Kabir Basti, Baba Basti, & Valmiki’s etc celebrated the notification issued by Government of Jammu & Kashmir for registration of bonafide migrants or displaced persons for the purpose of issuance of Domicile Certificate and celebrated the day by organizing a function with limited number of people keeping all preventive measures & social distancing as a protection against corona virus. On this occasion BJP J&K senior leader and incharge information Technology & Social Media Department, Jaidev Rajwal was chief guest and received a warm welcome.
BJP Anantnag district vice president and councilor Mattan, Rakesh Koul has termed the Domicile law as a historic decision of Modi Government. He complimented the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, HM, Amit Shah, Union Mos, Dr Jitendra Singh and Lt Governor, G C Murmu for this historical step.BJP spokesperson Kulgam district Vijay Raina has also termed the Domicile law a new historical development which will give justice to the deprived sections of J&K UT who suffered during the seven decades of NC and Congress rule.
BJP senior leader and ex MLC Vikram Randhawa while expressing his pleasure over the notification of Domicile rules said the Government has taken a very bold and positive step post abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir by introducing new Domicile law for the residents.
All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) Welcomed additions made to the Domicile Definition as announced by the UT of J&K yesterday & on May 16 .
AIKS in a statement said that vide its letter dated 4TH May 2020 had written to the Union Home Secretary with a copy to the Lt Governor of UT of J&K expressing the community’s misgivings concerning the issue of Domicile definition as announced by the UT Government on April 1, 2020 and subsequently amended on April 3, 2020.The definition had created confusion and uncertainty in the community as it had left out a huge chunk of displaced community members out of the purview of the definition.
Jammu Kashmir Nationalist Movement (JKNM) has noted with satisfaction the revised rules of domicile announced by the Adviser to the LG yesterday. This is the vindication of our strenuous effort to get the Government to clarify some doubts and misgivings that had arisen after the new domicile rules were announced by the Home Ministry.
Sunil Dimple chairman Jammu West Assembly Movement has outrightly rejected the domicile certificate and dilution of the PRC state subject powers. The issuance domicile certificate will put one crore thirty lakh population of Jammu Kashmir to problems.
Dimple demanded that Government should convert PRC State subjects into domicile certificates.
While welcoming the notification issued by GAD on Domicile Law, Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha (DBPS) complimented Prime Minister, Home Minister and Lt Governor, GC Murmu for this historical step.
In a joint statement issued here, today DBPS president, Ved Parkash Sharma, Advocate PC Sharma, Subash Shastri, VN Magotra , Satyanand Sharma, Romesh Sharma , Gurdas Sharma , BS Jamwal, Sunil Sharma , Advocate Chander Mohan Sharma, Jagan Nath, Shiv Ram , Prem Balotra , Som Nath, Jialal, Raman Sharma and several other members of the Sabha said the history will recall Prime Minister , Union Home, Minister for various decision taken by the NDA Government at the Centre till date.
BJP spokesperson for displaced Kashmiri district, Rajiv Pandita also welcomed the new domicile rules notification for which notification was issued by UT Government on Monday thus making all the deprived sections of the UT eligible to be the domicile of the J&K especially the displaced bonafied Kashmiri Pandits.
West Pak refugees president Labha Ram Gandhi while reacting over the new domicile rules said that over seven decade long discrimination to which his community was subjected has ended with the new rule. He gave full credit to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, LG, G C Murmu and MP Jugal Kishroe Sharma for bringing cheers on the faces of refugees who faced suppression and oppression through the hands of Congress and NC for decades together.
Kashmiri Samiti Delhi (KSD) termed the decision on Domicile Law a historic step taken by Narendra Modi Government and Home Minister, Amit Shah. It also gave full credit to Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh for his initiative in this regard.
KSD president, Sumeer Chrungoo in a statement said that his organisation was the first which was called by Lt Governor, J&K G C Murmu on January 21 to discuss several issues of displaced Pandits including Domicile. It also complimented the LG for his efforts in fulfilling the commitments made with the KSD leadership including bringing new Domicile rules to fulfil the aspirations the suppressed and oppressed classes of J&K.
The PoJK Sharnarthis Intellectual Forum president advocate Amrik Singh and general secretary Surjeet Singh have also complimented the Union Government led by Narendra Modi, HM , Amit Shah, Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh and Lt Governor G C Murmu for new Domicile rules and giving justice to PoJK refugees putting up outside J&K and other communities of the UT.
Dr Narinder Singh, BJP vice president expressed his extreme pleasure over the order by the Government of JK U, for granting domicile status to West Pakistan refugees, Valmiki, Ghorkhas and to 5300 DPs of 1947 from POJK those who were sheltered in other states were initially sent outside the State due to inadequate arrangements here in Jammu.
Trikuta Kashmiri Samiti complimented the Central Government headed by Narinder Modi , HM Amit Shah, MoS in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh and Lt Governor, UT of J&K G.C Murmu for notification on Domicile Law. After revoking Article 370 this is the first big step taken in favour of Kashmiri Pandits and other related people who will be benefited with this law. Both the decisions have come a sort of relief to KPs who are under great stress for last two decades, Samiti said in a statement issued here.
Global Kashmir Pandit Diaspora termed the notifixcation of Domicle an important first step for restorative justice to Kashmir Pandit genocide.
In a statement (GKPD) said the non-discriminatory order recognizes the inalienable residency rights of Kashmiri Pandits in the face of their ethnic cleansing leading to internal displacement and migration to lands where other governments hold sway.
J&K Peoples Conference has also strongly opposed the new notification saying the August 5 decision is not acceptable to people.
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