Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 10: The Group of Ministers (GoM) set up on settlement of illegal foreign nationals in parts of Jammu region today directed the authorities to collect entire data pertaining to Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, living in Jammu and Samba districts, and report to them in the next meeting, which was likely to be held in second half of this month.
In its first meeting today at Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, the GoM headed by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh and comprising Health and Medical Education Minister Bali Bhagat, Rural Development Minister Abdul Haq Khan and Consumer Affairs, Civil Supplies and Public Distribution Minister Choudhary Zulfikar, was briefed by Home Secretary RK Goyal on all aspects pertaining to illegal settlement of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Jammu and Samba districts.
Sources told the Excelsior that Goyal gave extensive briefing to the GoM on settlement of foreign nationals in Jammu right from their entry, setting up of dwellings, funding by some organizations, total number of the immigrants and other related issues.
Asserting that since this was first and preliminary meeting of the GoM, sources said the Ministers first wanted the administration to prepare detailed note on settlement of foreign nationals in Jammu including their total number, nationality, year of settlement, documents in their possession and other related information.
The GoM, according to sources, is understood to have sought detailed document from the administration, backed by the Intelligence agencies reports, on threats posed by the illegal settlement of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis on outskirts of Jammu and Samba districts.
“Once the administration is equipped with all relevant details, they will be placed before the GoM, which would meet again and take up the issue further,’’ sources said, adding in view of complexities of the issue and divergent stand of two coalition partners—the PDP and BJP—formulating recommendations could take some time.
The coalition partners are not on the same page on the settlement of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. While the BJP wants them to be deported back to their countries, the PDP is adverse to any such demand.
Security Audit of the illegal foreign nationals settled in Jammu and Samba districts is already on. This is being conducted by the administration, sources said.
The State Government has mandated the GoM to go into the settlement of illegal migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh and examine all relevant aspects related to illegal immigrants. The GoM would be free to debate and discuss every issue pertaining to illegal settlement of foreign immigrants in Jammu and Samba districts, repercussions of their settlement and all other issues connected to them.
Sources said the GoM would also go into the reservations voiced from several quarters that the Myanmar and Bangladeshi nationals could be exploited by the ‘anti-national elements’ and their settlement here could lead to demographic change of Jammu region.
It may be mentioned here that security and Intelligence agencies have been maintaining strict surveillance on the Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals by monitoring their activities in view of reports that attempts could be made by ‘anti-national’ and ‘anti-social’ elements to exploit them and rope them into the militancy, though no such incident of their involvement has been reported so far.
On March 4, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had sought from the State Government the steps being taken to check any further flow of Rohingyas in Jammu and to ensure that they don’t fall into the hands of militants and anti-national elements. Besides, the Home Ministry wanted the State Government to formulate a roadmap on the illegal foreign settlers.
The Government has reports that at the time of settlement of Rohingyas in Jammu, it was UPA Government at the Centre and National Conference-Congress coalition Government in the State.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC), headed by Dr Nirmal Singh, today discussed the implementation of 93 MW New Ganderbal Hydroelectric Project in Srinagar.
The CSC comprised Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu, Forests Minister Choudhary Lal Singh and Rural Development Minister Abdul Haq Khan.
The CSC discussed in detail the implementation of the Hydroelectric Project. It would submit its report to the Cabinet after another round of meeting, sources said, adding the CSC would go into the previous Government’s decision to award the contract and negotiate it at the fag end of their term.
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