Deprived of permanent resident certificates, displaced people hope to get identity back
Deprived of citizenship rights by the successive State Governments, the West Pakistani refugees, living in different parts of Jammu region, are patiently waiting for the outcome of lok Sabha polls.
For over the last six decades, these refugees are waiting for their turn to be handed over permanent resident certificates (PRC) but so far they have been accorded step-motherly treatment and ignored by the powers at the helm.
Besides doling sops and paltry cash assistance, the political parties in power have shied away from granting them citizenship rights.After a long gap, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has once again raised their hopes of restoring their identity.
Addressing a rally in Hiranagar area of Jammu on March 26, Modi had assured them that if voted to power, he would address their issues. On April 7, when BJP’s manifesto reiterated the commitment given by Modi himself, several senior refugee leaders were satisfied.
Following the assurance, labah Ram Gandhi, a joint candidate of various refugee organisations contesting under the banner of Refugees United Front, had withdrawn his candidature in support of BJP’s State unit chief, Jugal Kishore Sharma. “Now we are hopeful of realising our cherished dream of getting the citizenship rights,” the senior refugee leader told The Pioneer.
“Our children can apply for the State Government jobs and we can avail all the facilities deprived to us in the absence of PRC’s,” said labha Ram Gandhi, a prominent voice of refugees in Jammu. Till date these refugees have been deprived of their rights to even vote for the Assembly polls. They only are eligible to vote in the lok Sabha polls.
The strategic move by the refugee leader had caused a lot of heart burn in the Congress camp as they too were banking on their support.
According to political observers, “By winning over different organisations of refugee leaders on their side, the BJP has played a master stroke. If refugees would go ahead and support BJP candidates in the lok Sabha polls, it would be difficult for the alliance candidate to romp home victoriously”. As estimated, over six lakh refugee voters are going to exercise their franchise.
Coupled with this, a virtual divide between the Gujjar and Pahari speaking population in the region is another cause of concern for the alliance candidate. The current dispensation at both the Centre and in the State has failed to address genuine grievances of Pahari speaking people demanding Schedule Tribe status at par with Gujjars.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s assurance to Pahari speaking population that his Government would grant them the status ahead of the Assembly polls due in November 2014, has already landed him in trouble. Both PDP and Panthers party have lodged a complaint against him with the Election Commission alleging clear cut violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Fight for right!
Addressing a rally in Hiranagar area of Jammu on March 26, Modi had assured them that if voted to power, he would address their issuesTill date these refugees have been deprived of their rights to even vote for the Assembly polls. They only are eligible to vote in the lok Sabha polls
By winning over different organisations of refugee leaders on their side, the BJP has played a master stroke. If these refugees support BJP candidates in the lok Sabha polls, it would be difficult for the alliance candidate to romp home victoriously A virtual divide between the Gujjar and Pahari speaking population in the region is another cause of concern for the alliance candidate