The Omar Abdullah government plans to introduce a bill in the ongoing session for giving property rights to the “permanent residents of the Jammu and Kashmir”, who live in slums, under Rajiv Awas Yojna.
Separatists are bracing-up for another showdown with the Jammu and Kashmir government over the decision to give property rights to the "non state subject" slum dwellers.
The Omar Abdullah government plans to introduce a bill in the ongoing session for giving property rights to the “permanent residents of the Jammu and Kashmir”, who live in slums, under Rajiv Awas Yojna.
However, the separatists smell a rat calling the move an attempt to alter the demographic status Muslim majority state of Jammu & Kashmir
Leading the charge is moderate Hurriyat Conference and separatist Kashmir High Court Bar Association who have raised the bugle of protests.
“The move is illegal and unconstitutional because the government intends to settle the non-residents in Jammu and Kashmir on the pattern of the Israel which settles Jews in occupied territories of Palestine in the name of settlement of the refugees,” said GN Shaheen, general secretary, J&K High Court Bar Association.
Shaheen said the settlement of these “non resident Kashmiris” is a violation of the provisions of the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and article 370 enshrined in the Indian constitution under which the state enjoys special status.
“In 1947 there was not a single dweller recorded in the political and social history of the Jammu and Kashmir. After 1947 government of India has pushed the slum dwellers into Jammu and Kashmir especially in Jammu region. The government is going to settle 4.5 lakh slum dwellers in Jammu and Kashmir among whom none is a permanent resident of the state of J&K”, said Shaheen.
The issue has given handle to moderate Hurriyat Conference to whip up passions and prepare ground for another round of agitation.
“People are shocked by the J&K cabinet decision (to give property rights to slum dwellers). Let me make it very clear that if the legislation is passed there will be no other alternative but to launch agitation akin to Amarnath land row of 2008," said Nayeem Ahmad Khan, senior leader of the moderate Hurriyat Conference.
On September 21 the Omar Abdullah cabinet approved the draft to give property rights to those slum dwellers who are permanent residents of J&K.
“The cabinet also cleared draft of the bill being introduced in the forthcoming session for giving property rights to the permanent residents of the Jammu and Kashmir State, who live in slums under Rajiv Awas Yojna," said an official spokesperson after the cabinet meeting.
The fresh row has erupted five months after the government was forced to revoke the Dogra certificate decision under the separatist pressure. Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Geelani had termed the issue as a part of the script of communal parties to divide Jammu region on the basis of religion.
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