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| BJP, JSM, JKNPP stage protest, stall proceedings, walk-out | | Jammu refugees issues comes alive! | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Mar 19: Pandemonium broke out in the lower house of the state legislature over the issue of continued denial of citizenship rights to refugees of West Pakistan as soon as it met for day's business after three holidays.
Jammu based parties, who claim of championing cause of regional discrimination woke up from deep slumber. BJP, JKNPP and lone member of Jammu State Morcha (JSM) were all seen trying to outdo others in championing the cause of West Pakistan refugees. They looked in colour and it seemed as if they would not allow the proceedings of the assembly to begin.
The first person to raise the voice was old political warhorse and ex-MP Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta. As soon as the house met for day's business, MLA (Jammu West) Chaman Lal Gupta raised the issue of continued denial of citizenship rights to West Pakistan refugees. He said that despite being promised heaven, these refugees are yet to be given their due democratic right.
Calling their miserable plight an unfortunate situation, Gupta said that even after six decades of their displacement, they are yet to be rehabilitated. "Lakhs of people are without citizenship rights in Jammu and Kashmir. Hundreds of them are Delhi to highlight their miserable plight before people of the country. This is because successive state governments have never bothered to knock at their doors and redress their grievances," Gupta said.
Alleging discriminatory attitude of governments towards West Pakistan refugees, Gupta said that there is need to address their genuine issue on top priority. As soon as Gupta went silent, MLAs of BJP, JKNPP and lone JSM member Ashwani Sharma, who were already on their feet, began raising slogans against the discriminatory attitude of government. They put up a united front and did not allow Speaker Mohammed Akbar Lone to start the business.
Raising slogans of "Yeh Sarkari Jammu Virodhi hai, Refugee Virodi Hai," they did not allow the house proceedings to even begin. Their vociferous protests could not be quelled even by repeated assertions of Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone that government was looking into the matter. He failed to pacify agitated legislators of Jammu region.
Ashok Khajuria, Sukhnandan, Sham Choudhary alongwith other Jammu based MLAs including those from JKNPP raised slogans at the top of their voices. JKNPP's Balwant Singh Mankotia was heard saying that state government has been discriminating with refuses of Jammu province. "You talk of democracy. Which democracy? You are not giving refugees their fundamental right which constitution of India has already given them," Mankotia said.
"It is unfortunate that you are not going to listen grievances of the West Pakistan and PoK refugees. This is a grave injustice with them," said BJP MLA Ashok Khajuria. BJP members also taunted some Congress legislators, who were silently watching them. "People will not forget you for maintaining silence on the issue of West Pakistan refugees," Khajuria said. He added that how long the government will deny citizenship to these helpless people who have been living in the state since 1947.
"There are over 1.5 lakh west Pakistan refugees living in border districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua district for past 62 years, but have been denied citizenship rights, right to vote in Assembly elections, right professional education, right to employment,", said Ashok Khajuria. With each passing minute, the intensity of protest increased. All likelihood was that situation would compel the speaker to adjourn the house for some minutes.
However, he preferred otherwise and did not adjourn the house. The commotion continued for nearly ten minutes and opposition members continued to shout slogans against the government and its policies after which they staged a walkout. |
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