The release of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam has once again turned the spotlight on the refugee problem in Jammu and Kashmir, with many representatives of displaced people seeking a one-time settlement in the State.
Labha Ram Gandhi, president of the West Pakistan Refugees Action Committee, told The Hindu that abrogation of Article 35A, which defined State subject laws and granted special privileges in matters of property and jobs, was the shortest route to access the pending citizenship rights in India.
Long fight
“If Article 35A goes on August 6 [the day the Supreme Court will hear multiple petitions filed against it], we will get citizenship rights, including the right to vote for the Assembly. We are fighting for our rights since 1947. We are Indians and not Bangladeshis, who need to be thrown out. It’s because of the local governments, a puppet of Pakistan, we failed to get citizenship rights. This government [the Centre] will deliver us justice,” Mr. Gandhi said.
The BJP in J&K has been campaigning for full citizenship rights for West Pakistan refugees.
These refugees are mainly Hindus, with 80% of them belonging to the Scheduled Castes, who migrated during Partition from Sialkot to J&K. By an assessment, their population of these refugees is estimated at between 2.5 lakh and 3 lakh.
Rajiv Chuni, president of SOS International, an NGO fighting for the cause of displaced citizens of erstwhile J&K who shifted into this part during the 1948, 1965 and 1971 wars, said the case of displaced population should be “looked through the humanitarian prism”.
“I doubt the sincerity of purpose in Assam. It’s taking a Hindu-Muslim colour. In J&K, I am held back in a territory that is not mine. I am from Mirpur [in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir] and wants the right to vote from there,” Mr. Chuni said.
Independent MLA Engineer Rashid, while accusing the Centre of “dislodging Muslims in Assam”, said: “If the Centre wants foreigners to be identified and deported it must start with the West Pakistani refugees in J&K.”