Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 1: Expressing their apprehensions about the domicile order issued by Central Government for J&K through a notification yesterday, various political parties have criticised the way the law has been defined by the Union Government.
Congress has strongly reacted to the new domicile provision inserted late yesterday in the matter of recruitment to Government jobs in the UT of J&K and termed it as a cruel joke with rights of local youth to the jobs and another betrayal of BJP with the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
Reacting to the notification issued late last night, after several months of rhetorical statements by the Government and BJP leaders promising the youth of J&K to protect their rights in the jobs and assuring them time and again that abrogation of special status would in no way affect their rights and open more opportunities to jobs, JKPCC Chief, G A Mir in a statement issued here today said that the youth feel largely betrayed now by the BJP, as the cat is now out of the bag.
He said that the youth of J&K had been striving for the protection of their exclusive rights over jobs post abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile State but every time they were being hoodwinked on the assurances that their rights to jobs will be equally protected besides there will be large scale opportunities of jobs in the Government and private sector.
He said that when the entire country is passing through a strict lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, once again the Government has issued a notification which is totally unacceptable to the youth of J&K as it would deprive them of their valuable rights to jobs in the Government sector. He said that Government sector jobs were the only opportunities to the local youth of J&K in view of non existence private sector due to disturbed conditions here but now major portions of jobs would go to outside candidates.
Taking a strong exception to the Central Government order defining domicile law for J&K, Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today demanded that the order be put in abeyance till the COVID-19 Pandemic is over.
“It is most unfortunate that such an important order has been issued at a time when the whole country is battling for its survival and is under strict lockdown to stem spread of deadly Corona Virus disease. While JKAP had been vehemently demanding Domicile Rights on land and jobs for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the order issued by the Union Government reflects a casual exercise carried out at bureaucratic level without taking aspirations and expectations of people into consideration,” Bukhari said.
Maintaining that Domicile law is not in the best interests of J&K residents, Congress today said that if non locals are allowed to purchase land and get jobs in the J&K it will lead to unemployment , joblessness and poverty.
Congress vice president, G M Saroori in a statement issued here, today termed the Centre move to provide protection to domicile of Jammu and Kashmir in Government jobs, educational institutions and land rights as most unfortunate and not in the best interests of the residents of J&K.
Saroori said J&K people, their land and resources are not protected under new domicile law and should be on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh and north Eastern states.
Peoples Democratic Front (PDF), chairman, Hakeem Yaseen while expressing his concern over order on Domicile termed it as another breach of trust with the people of the J&K adding that it was totally against the expectations and aspirations of the people.
In a statement issued here, today Yaseen said the order was even against the promises and assurances of the Prime Minister and Home Minister of the country made in the Parliament that the domicile rights of the people of J&K on land and jobs would be protected adequately.
However while appreciating the gazette Notification of the Central Government with regard to domicile issue in the J&K State, BJP leader, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo demanded that the issue of fresh registration of migrants with Relief and Rehabilitation Office should be immediately stopped with effect from April 1. He said this issue was raised with the appropriate authorities earlier as well, but the exigencies of situation so warrant that the registration should come to a close formally and officially now”.
Chrungoo said there are a number of elements who always try to exploit the legal and formal procedure to the benefits of the vested interests. Continuation of registration of migrants has since lost its relevance and the system need to be abolished forthwith.
President West Pak Refugees, Labha Ram Gandhi however welcomed the new law saying this has generated a new hope among the children of West Pak refugees who were deprived of their rights in J&K for last over 70 years. Gandhi while appreciating, prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister, Amit Shah said with the new law on Domicile, our youth can also compete in the jobs and an injustice which they met for over last 70 years will end.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) termed the Central Government order defining domicile law for J&K as ambivalent, irresolute and akin to rubbing salt to the people wounds. In a statement Party general secretary, and former MLC, Surinder Choudhary termed the order issued by GoI defining the domicile rights of the people of the erstwhile State as ill timed, very badly drafted and outcome of confused and chaotic bureaucracy.
Terming Domicile law nothing but an eye wash, J&K Human Rights Defence spokesman , Rafiq Mkhdoomi said that people are annoyed over the order.
In a statement issued here, today he said after abrogation of Article 370 Centre promised domicile of Jammu and Kashmir which would protect the land and job rights of the people of J&K. But as the notification reads it has nothing like protection in it. The people have expressed their dissatisfaction over the official order defining the domicile law for J&K.
Congress vice president and former MLC, G N Monga while terming the Central Government’s order defining the domicile law for Jammu and Kashmir against the interests of the people of the erstwhile State said when the entire world has been engulfed by Corona Virus Pandemic, the BJP Government rubbed further salt on the wounds of the people of J&K.
National general secretary and Spokesman of Youth Wing of NCP, Rishi Kaul Kilm while criticising the order said it does not fulfil the aspirations of the people of J&K and demanded the order needs amendment and review.
Sunil Verma district president NC Udhampur described the order issued by Union Government as a joke with the youth of J&K. In a statement issued here, today he said on the one hand , due to the Corona Virus, there are chaos in the entire world and on the other hand the Central Government has issued a “Tughlaqi Farman” for Jammu and Kashmir.
He demanded that the order be put on hold till the effect of Corona Virus is reduced.
Ashok Kumar former MLA and spokesman, JKPCC also criticised the Domicile Law saying that the law has failed in safeguarding the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and termed it totally void and unacceptable.
President Shri Amar Kshatriya Rajput Sabha (Kumar Sabha), Pawan Chib has also condemned the new Domicile Law for Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement issued here ,today he said the new law is sheer injustice and betrayal with the youth of J&K.
Jammu Muslim Front while opposing the new law on Domicile said this way the Union Government has stabbed people of J&K in the back. Shuja Zaffar, chairman of the Front said it is surprising to note that bill has snatched the rights of children for gazetted posts as Home Minister of India had promised that too.
Rajan Gupta senior vice president, Shiv Sena also strongly condemned the Central Government notification on Domicile for J&K UT when the country is fighting the COVID-19 epidemic and demanded that the same be revoked immediately.
Lamenting on the new domicile law for the UT J&K, former MLA NPP president Balwant Singh Mankotia strongly expressed his resentment over the new Law passed by Central Government.
In a handout issued today, Mankotia said that the whole nation is already suffering from pandemic COVID-19 and in this critical situation Central Government has taken the advantage of lockdown and passed the new Domicile law in dictatorial way as no one can assemble on roads to oppose it. Mankotia said that this law has put the future of our educated youth in dark, the new domicile law seeks our local youth only for class IV post as all the upper posts can be applied by the candidates of all over the country, which has caused the strong resentment among the educated youth, he alleged.
Former Minister & president DCC, Kathua, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma strongly criticized GOI, State BJP and its leadership for playing with sentiments of people and backstabbing & betraying the educated unemployed youth of J&K. Manohar said recent notification on Domicile Law by MHA has exposed BJP and its leadership and said even during visit of 25 Central ministers the same was said that land and job rights for locals will be safeguarded and a strong domicile law was given but now everything is clear in front of people.