BJP leader questions govt over status of Kashmiri Pandits in domicile law

New Delhi/Jammu: A former legislator and BJP leader has questioned the central government over the ambiguity about the status of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the recent amendment in a law related to jobs in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
Surinder Ambardar, former member of legislative council in J&K assembly has sent a memorandum to the Lt Governor of the UT, G.C. Murmu, pointing out the limitations of the amendment in The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralization and Recruitment) Act 2020.
As per the amendment, ‘migrants’ are entitled to privileges as domicile in government jobs in the UT of J&K. However, ‘migrant’ has been defined as one who is registered as a migrant by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants) in the UT of J&K.
Ambardar has pointed out that the definition leaves out thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandits who are registered in other parts of India and not in J&K.
Questioning the government’s intent, the BJP leader asked whether it was “a mistake, mischief or manipulation” to create such ambiguity about the displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
The legislator said that it has “far reaching and oppressive consequences” for the ethno-religious displaced persons in particular and India in general.
“There is an urgency to get certain facts clear because of the ambiguity and doubts related to Kashmiri migrants created in the provision of section 3A/b,” the former legislator wrote to the LG.
The BJP leader has demanded an immediate rectification in the law and adoption of the correct definition of ‘migrant’ as established under The Jammu and Kashmir Migrant immovable Property (Preservation, Protection And Restrained on Distress sales) Act 1997 and SRO-412 issued for the recruitment under the PM Employment Package. He has also sought to replace the word ‘migrant’ with ‘internally displaced’.
The former legislator has recommended fresh Registration of all those who are not registered and have a valid Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) of self/parents/ancestors or immovable properties in Kashmir and inclusion of all those who are registered as migrants with government relief agencies anywhere in India as natural domicile of J&K.(IANS)