SRINAGAT: The PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir has started issuing “Nativity/Identity certificates” to the West Pakistan (WP) Refugees, who have settled in the State after partition in 1947 but were not granted State citizenship by the successive State governments.
“We are issuing the ‘Nativity/Identity certificates’ to the WP Refugees after receiving directions from Union Ministry of Home Affairs in August this year,” Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Pawan Kotwal, told Express.
However, he said the “Nativity/Identity certificates” issued to the WP refugees is not in any way linked to the State subject.
“The Nativity/Identity certificates clearly mention that the person is a WP refugee, who has been living in J&K after partition but is not a resident of the State,” Kotwal said adding it has further been mentioned in the certificate that the person is a citizen of India and needs the certificate for applying in central government and central forces jobs.
He said a revenue officer of the rank of Naib Tehsildar has been given the powers to issue the certificates to the “Nativity/Identity certificates” to the WP refugees.
Asked whether these are anyway linked to J&K citizenship, Divisional Commissioner said, “Since the WP refugees are not citizens of J&K, so there is no question of them getting State subject certificates. These certificates have been issued to them so that they can get jobs in central government and central forces”.
At least 5800 families from Sialkote, Pakistan had settled in border districts in J&K after partition of Indian sub-continent in 1947.
Known as West Pakistan refugees, these refugee families had settled in seven districts of Jammu province at the time of partition and were granted citizenship of India. They are entitled to cast votes in parliamentary elections but cannot exercise their right to franchise in J&K Assembly elections. Besides, they are not entitled for jobs in the State government departments.
President, West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee, Labha Ram told Express that they are being issued the “Identity Cards” and not the “Domicile” certificates.
He said at least 19960 families of WP refugees are living in the State and are registered with the J&K government.
“Despite being living in State since 1947, the WP refugees have not been granted the J&K citizenship. It is a humanitarian issue and State government should issue us citizenship as we are the citizens of India and living in State for over six decades,” he said.
Labha-led delegation of WP refugees had met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in presence of senior J&K BJP leader and Union MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh in national capital on September 24.
“We told the Home Minister that our case should be looked through humanitarian issue. We told him that we have been living in J&K for over six decades and yet we are without citizenship of the State,” he said adding, “We told him If the State government cannot grant us citizenship, then central government should shift us to other places in the country, where we can be treated at par with the local residents as citizen of the India”.
Labha said despite living in J&K since 1947, they have not been given any fundamental right by successive state government.
The ruling PDP, opposition parties National Conference and Congress and separatist groups in Kashmir are opposed to granting State citizenship to WPRs. NC, Congress and separatists opine that settlement of WPRs in the State and granting them state citizenships would alter the demography of the State.
The State BJP, however, is strong votary of granting state citizenship to the WP refugees.
However, there is no mention of granting citizenship or other rights to WP refugees in Common Minimum Programme (CMP) framed by PDP and BJP for running the coalition government in the State.
The CMP only mentions that the government should take measures for sustenance and livelihood of the WP refugees.