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| West Pakistan refugees citizens of India: Govt | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 23: Few days after the Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone described the West Pakistan refugees as "guests of Jammu and Kashmir", the state government today said that these refugees were "very much citizens" of India and to grant them permanent citizenship of the country involves amendment in both the Constitution of India and that of the state.
In a written reply to BJP MLA Jugal Kishore regarding the citizenship rights to West Pakistan refugees residing in the state for the past 60 years and any proposal for the rehabilitation of PoK refugees on the pattern of Kashmiri migrants, Minister In charge Revenue, Raman Bhalla said, "Amendment both to the country's Constitution and that of the state was required for granting status of permanent residents to the West Pakistan refugees."
He, however, said no proposal has been made regarding rehabilitation of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) refugees on the pattern of Kashmiri migrants.
"The PoK refugees who chose to settle in rural areas, were rehabilitated by way of allotment of state land and the Evacuees' land as per the scales mentioned in Cabinet order No: 578-C of 1954 dated 7-4/1954 and those who chose to settle in urban areas were allotted quarters and plots," the Minister said.
However, they were subsequently conferred with ownership rights under 254-C of 1965 in respect of state lands and occupancy rights under section 3-A of the Agrarian Reforms Act 1976 in respect of Evacuees lands.
Besides, the Government of India initially allotted an amount of Rs 6.17 crores for payment as ex-gratia relief at the rate of Rs 5000 per kanal subject to the maximum of Rs 25,000 per family in lieu of land deficiency, the scale which was subsequently enhanced to an amount at the rate of Rs 30,000 per kanal subject to maximum of Rs 1.50 lakh per family, Bhalla said.
The minister also informed the house that an amount of Rs 49 crore has been sanctioned on this account.
It may be mentioned here that the issue had already witnessed uproar in the Lower House of State Legislature over the issue when the legislator of BJP, JKNPP and JSM had staged a walkout after Speaker described them as "guests of Jammu and Kashmir". |
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