Bilal Handoo
Srinagar
People’s Democratic Party leader, Murtaza Khan, Monday locked horns with the minister of revenue, relief and rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla, in state assembly over settlement of refugees in the state.
Reacting to the reply of Raman Balla who had informed the house that all those who migrated to Jammu and Kashmir during the events of 1947 will be rehabilitated, Khan accused the government of allegedly settling non-locals in the state under the grab of rehabilitation of refugees which triggered heated arguments in the upper house.
“What do you mean? Do you want to settle people from Bihar in the state under this policy,” Murtaza told the minister. Taking strong note of Khan’s remarks, health minister, Sham Lal Sharma and others from the ruling coalition demanded an apology from Khan for ‘disrespecting the sentiments of refugees.’
“So far, you have not been given self rule. How can you term refugees Biharis? You should apologize to the whole house,” Sham said. The commotion gripped the house for a while. Earlier, Raman Balla informed the house that the policy of one time permanent settlement of Pak refugees has been taken up with prime minister of India.
An official survey has identified about 4745 families consisting of 21979 persons who had migrated to the state during 1947. “The cabinet sub-committee headed by finance minister is deliberating regarding their settlement, recruitment and voting rights,” Balla said.
