KL Report
SRINAGAR
Demanding National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to unite Awami Ittihaad Party president and MLA Langate Engineer Rashid Friday led a protest demonstration from Municipal Park against the central government’s proposed move to grant “concessions” and citizenship rights to the refugees of West Pakistan settled in Jammu province.
Amid heavy deployment of state police the protesters were shouting slogans against the settlement of Pakistani refugees. They apprehended the proposed move will change the demography of Jammu and Kashmir state. Holding placards with slogans like “Omar Mufti Ek Hojao, Refugees ko bagao”, “demographic change of J&K is unacceptable” and “Hurriyat Walo ek hojao, Refugees ko bagao” the protesters raised anti-BJP slogans.
Rashid while addressing his supporters warned BJP of “dire consequences” if such “anti-Kashmir” moves are carried ahead.
“Not only the Home Ministry under Rajnath Singh is aiming to provide jobs to these 11 lac refugees but it is also looking to bring them at par with the Kashmiri Pandits,” Rashid said adding “the central government in a shameful manner and brazen violation of all norms has given ultimatum of one year to State Government to grant 8 seats, vote rights and permanent citizenship rights to these refuges as recommended by the Parliamentary Committee.”
Rashid said that this is no less than a catastrophe for the people of Kashmir. “By its nefarious designs Sangh Parivar wants to achieve in one year what was not achieved in past 64 years,” he said.
“If India could send back refugees to Bangladesh and Burma, similarly, Pakistan has sent 4 million Afghan refugees back why can’t these West Pakistan refugees be sent back,” Rashid asked.
The march ended peacefully ended up at press enclave near Lal Chowk.
