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| Home Ministry gives nod to JK’s surrender policy | | Govt to flag off rehab scheme in Jammu | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar, Oct 30: The state government has finalized the surrender and rehabilitation policy for youth who had crossed LoC for arms training and now wish to return home.
The proposal is likely to be approved in the first cabinet meet to be held in the winter capital after Darbar move.
According to sources, Home minister P Chidambaram has already given a go ahead to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for implementation of the policy during their recent meeting in New Delhi. Now, the state cabinet is all set to approve the policy.
“We have finalised the policy. It needed some clarification and some issues to be resolved which has been done. Now in the first cabinet meeting in Jammu after darbar reaches there, the policy will be approved,” senior cabinet minister Taj Mohiudin told Early Times.
“Home Minister was very eager for the package and wants the state cabinet to approve it without any further delay. After the state cabinet approves the policy, it will be forwarded to the Centre for approval. The final package will be announced by the Union Cabinet,” Taj added.
Omar had talked about the rehabilitation policy in his address during Chief Ministers’ Conference on Internal Security held in New Delhi on February 7 earlier this year.
Sources said Home Minister readily agreed to the rehabilitation package since it was in line with a recommendation of one of the five working groups set up by the Prime Minister in May 2004.
The working group had mooted general amnesty for “misguided youths who want to shun the gun and return to the mainstream”.
The policy is tipped to be a major confidence building measure for Indo-Pakistan dialogue to get underway, a senior government functionary said.
Official sources maintain that the proposed rehabilitation package may be extended not only to those who had crossed over to Pak for arms training but also to hundreds of those who had crossed the LoC for economic and social reasons.
In one of the earlier meetings of the state cabinet, sources said, some ministers of Congress party had argued that the crossing points should be neutral and not in J&K.
However, Taj said that all such issues were sorted out.
“It is a privileged document and I cannot divulge any further detail before the cabinet approves it,” he said.
Wagah border in Punjab is considered as the best option to be the crossing point. “State government is also open to having multiple cross-over points across the LoC,” sources said.
Though the state government has not assessed the number of militants in Pak training camps who may want to avail the rehabilitation policy, an unofficial estimate puts the number anywhere between 1500 and 2000.
Once the rehabilitation policy is in place, sources say, the surrendered militants have to go through proper verification and will be under supervision and watch of intelligence agencies and police much after they have crossed over to the valley. They will also be identified by their family members.
Terming the policy as “need of the hour”, the Chief Minister had said that the state government sent the proposal to Home Ministry after taking into consideration all pros and cons of any misuse.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu on February 10 earlier, he had said, “The Centre and the State Government will work out such a policy as would not hamper the national interests at any level but pave way for the militants to return to normal life. This policy will also stop their recycling into militancy.”
Stating that there are reports that many youngsters are returning to J&K via some countries on fake papers and then disappear, Omar had said, “We have to provide a foolproof surrender and rehabilitation policy for the militants.”
He had also added that economic rehabilitation of the surrendered militants will be the part of the policy. “Once you have a policy they will come forward and return to the normal life.”
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