Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 4: The former Union Minister, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta has welcomed the resolve of the Centre to ensure the return and rehabilitation of the migrants to the Valley of Kashmir with dignity. He stressed for early measures to do the needful as the further delay could add to the problems because the vested interests and elements hostile to unity and integrity of India would never like so.
In a statement, issued here, today Prof. Gupta said the permanent rehabilitation of these people is not only a human problem but it was also linked with the unity of the people of various faiths and thus, the integrity of the country.
He recalled that earlier also the NDA Government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee on the recommendations of the Koul Committee had initiated measures to have the return and rehabilitation of these migrants. A substantial amount was earmarked for the construction of the colonies in the Valley and as first step six thousand jobs were created for the youths of these migrants in Kashmir but the entire scheme of the things was sabotaged after the change of guards at the Centre and the matter still remains unsolved although over the years more than Rupees ten thousands crore have been spent in the name of relief and rehabilitation of these migrants.
Instead of any return and rehabilitation, the numbers of these families have gone up from forty seven thousand in 1998 to over 62000 now and over 2500 Muslim families have also been added in this list of migrants. Annual expenditure on account of cash assistance and rations etc. has gone up from some crores to about a thousand crore with no headway.
In this connection, he also sought enquiry into the sale and purchase registrations of migrant property despite ban on such deals under the act of 1997. Atleast ten thousand such registrations are reported to have taken place during the past over a decade now, he added.
Prof. Gupta also referred to the issue of over a thousand such registered migrant families from Jammu areas. No measure is being taken for the return and rehabilitation of these families in their respective areas and districts although these districts have been declared militancy free long back.
Emphasizing for practical steps for sorting out the problem, Prof. Gupta said that one can realize the cleanse of minorities in theocratic Pakistan and more so in Pak-occupied Kashmir but it sounds strange the plight of minorities in the Valley of Kashmir where there was always the Government of NC, Congress and others who claim to be secular and raised the slogans of Hindu Muslim, Sikh Itihad.
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