Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 7: Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Prof Saifuddin Soz on Saturday demanded a white paper on issuance of domicile certificate by the Union Territory (UT) government in the Jammu and Kashmir. The people have deep suspicions on the domicile dertificate figures issued by the UT government, Pro Soz said in a statement here this afternoon.
He alleged that the UT Administration has camouflaged the figures on Domicile Certificates issued by it (UT Administration) by highlighting figures on West Punjab Refugees (WPR), Valmikis and Gorkhas, which constitute less than one lakh people.
The UT Government has itself indicated figures - 55931 WPRs, 2754 Valmikis and 789 Gorkhas. The number of certificates issued to these segments of society totals upto one lakh only, he said.
"The Administration must explain how 25 lakh Domicile Certificates were issued in Jammu and 15 lakhs in Kashmir, during just one year", he questioned and said Administration must come clean on this subject.
Prof Soz said it would be in its own interest to issue a 'White Paper" on its policy and criterion, giving details of important statistics, while covering social segments of the J&K State!
The UT Administration would also be well advised to appear in the public eye as a credible institution, beyond any doubt.
The general run of population must know how 25 lakh certificates were issued in Jammu and 15 lakh certificates in Kashmir, just in one year, the Congress leader said.
The UT Administration should realize that it is a delicate subject of great public and social importance.
Meanwhile, the entire exercise, in this connection, done by the UT Administration appears to be doubtful. The UT Govt. must explain its position further and take the people into confidence." |
