Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 23: Lambasting the BJP-PDP coalition for succumbing to the dictates of the separatists over various issues, NPP chairman and former minister Harshdev Singh today said that the credibility of present dispensation more particularly of BJP had stooped to an all time low.
He said that the Govt’s latest move to substitute the Domicile Certificate by Identity Cards for West Pak Refugees (WPRs) under the pressure of separatists was highly contemptuous, opprobrious and shameful. He said that WPRs who represented displaced Hindus and Sikhs with majority of them being SCs had pinned high hopes from the BJP Govt of being accorded Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs). He said that the BJP had made such assurances and promises during elections as also in its “Vision Document” assuring state subject Rights to WPRs. He regretted that after its ascendance to power in the Centre as well as the State, the BJP changed colours and had now refused even to grant domicile certificate to WPRs.
Calling upon the BJP leaders to refresh their memories of the bygone era, Harshdev pointed towards the jangle and rattle created by them in the Assembly and Parliament over the issue of grant of rights to WPRs. He said that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Home Affairs headed by BJP MP Venkaya Naidu had recommended grant of PRC Rights to the West Pak Refugees besides financial package in 2013-14. He further disclosed that the said JPC was again re-constituted on September 1, 2014 under Congress MP P. Bhattacharya which adopted the report of the previous JPC and tabled it in both Houses of the Parliament with no opposition recorded in any House thus paving the way for its implementation.
Justifying the claim of the WPRs for PRC status, Harshdev pointed out even the apex court in writ petition (Civil) 7698 had observed that it was within the domain of State legislature to take action to amend legislations including Representation of Peoples Act, Panchayati Raj Act, Land Alienation Act so as to confer them with the basic rights. He said that with BJP enthroning itself to power, it was expected that WPRs refugees would get the long awaited justice. But contrarily the party shamefully refused to grant even the domicile certificate.
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