PK slams rehabilitation policy for ex-militants

Excelsior Correspondent

PK leaders at a press conference at Jammu on Tuesday. — Excelsior /Rakesh

JAMMU, May 28:  Smelling a rat in State Government’s rehabilitation policy for ex-militants, sneaking into India especially from Nepal route, Panun Kashmir today said that the practice negates gains made in the battle against militancy in the State during last 23 years.
“The return and rehabilitation policy for militants in PoK has formally opened illegal floodgates for Pakistani citizens to settle in Indian territory forever as first class citizens of the country,”  Ashwani Chrungoo, president of Panun Kashmir, told reporters here.
“J&K Government has been pressurising the Union Government to recognize the ‘illegal immigration from Nepal route’ as a genuine passage for the ‘returnee ex-militants’,” he alleged.
“What guarantees does the Government have that these ‘ex-militants’ would not prove to be Trojan horses in the long run,” Chrungoo asked and said that under this policy, three entry points — JCP Wagah-Attari (Punjab), Chakan-da-Bagh and Salamabad crossings (J-K) and Indira Gandhi International Airport (New Delhi) had been identified for the return of former militants.
But the procedure as spelt out in the ‘Policy’ adopted by the Government in 2010, had been given a complete goodbye with the ‘returnees’ being permitted to take the Nepal route, alleged Chrungoo.
“The procedure to adopt Nepal route illegally envisages the violation of a number of national laws, bilateral treaties and international conventions, he alleged.
Terming the settlement of the surrendered militants as illegitimate, he said what Government has thought about West Pak and PoK refugees whose problem is unsettled for last 66 years.
Accusing the State Government of being directly involved in settlement of these refugees Virender Raina national spokesperson PK said that these people were involved in 1989 violence and waging a war against the nation.