Will continue to support rights of WPRs: BJP

Brig (retd) Anil Gupta interacting with media persons at Jammu.
Brig (retd) Anil Gupta interacting with media persons at Jammu.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 31: BJP today condemned Hurriyat and other political parties for opposing the grant of domicile certificate to the West Pakistan Refugees residing in Jammu and Kashmir and said it will continue to support the rights of the WPRs.
“Hartal called by Hurriyat and other separatist groups yesterday to oppose the grant of domicile certificate to WPRs is very unfortunate, unwarranted and uncalled for. BJP strongly opposes the efforts of these pro-Pakistan elements to politicise a humanitarian issue,” BJP state spokesperson Brig Anil Gupta (retd) said while interacting with media persons here today.
“It is very unfortunate that a section of society living among us is termed as refugees and denied basic rights on the plea that they are not the state subjects and have migrated from West Pakistan at the time of partition,” he said.
Even after 70 years of independence they are being given this treatment in their own country due to the “parochial outlook” of the majority community in the State is tragic, Gupta said.
“It is the influx of illegal Bangladeshi and Burmese migrants that has resulted in the demographic change and ironically they do not raise any voice against them but welcome them and this highlights their communal outlook”, he said.
Brig Gupta said political parties like NC are misquoting history and trying to mislead the people of Jammu using the name of Late Maharaja Hari Singh. Their contention that State Subject laws were enacted by the Maharaja to safeguard the interest of Dogras is being quoted out of context.
The statements of Ambika Soni in Jammu and Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal in Srinagar clearly show that the Congress was only exploiting them for narrow political gains and now that their plight is being improved by the present BJP Government they have joined hands with the Hurriyat and others to oppose the same, lamented Brig Gupta.
“Issue of domicile certificate will enable the WP refugees to seek central Government jobs including in CAPF and Army. There will be quota for them in the 5 IRP Battalions being raised under Prime Minister Special Package for J&K”, he added.
BJP State Spokesperson Balbir Ram Rattan was also present in the press conference.

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