JAMMU: Former minister and Udhampur MLA Pawan Gupta today accused BJP of surrendering before PDP on the issue of West Pakistan refugees to stay in power.
"BJP's lust of power led it to surrender before PDP to promote the agenda of separatists while denying the citizenship rights to West Pakistan refugees despite their domicile in Jammu and Kashmir for the last seven decades," Gupta claimed.
Gupta, who was a minister in the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed -led coalition was dropped from the Cabinet when Mehbooba Mufti took over the reins of the state, alleged BJP has betrayed the people of Jammu region.
Gupta also accused BJP of aligning with the separatists and PDP to scuttle the establishment of Kashmiri Pandits' and Sainik colonies in Kashmir.
Gupta said the fundamental right of the West Pakistan refugees has been infringed even after they were promised domicile certificates.
"Now BJP has taken a U-turn despite its announcement of issuing domicile certificates to the refugees and ridiculously reducing the same to merely issuance of I-cards, thus depriving them any chance of livelihood," he said.