Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led alliance Government in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday informed the State Assembly that there was no proposal under the active consideration of the State Government which grants citizenship rights to West Pakistani refugees living in the State.
The West Pakistani refugees are not permanent residents of the State, hence, they are not entitled for all legal rights including Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC), the State Government admitted in the House.
According to official data of the Relief and Rehabilitation department, “A total number of 9,823 families of West Pakistani refugees are living in the State along with 31,619 families of PoK refugees of 1947, 4,061 families of 1965 and 9,442 families of 1971 in the State”.
The State Govt headed by Omar Abdullah had last year submitted a proposal to the Union Government seeking sum of Rs9,096 crores towards paying one time settlement amount to PoK refugees of 1947 and displaced persons of 1965, 1971 wars.
The Union Government headed by Narendra Modi, however, returned the same while directing the State Government not to send the proposal in a piece meal manner and also advised them to send a comprehensive and consolidated proposal. “The Govt of India would not be able to consider any package unless it includes the West Pakistani refugees as well,” the reply said.
At present, the State Government is contemplating to take steps to clear the observations of the Govt of India and accordingly revised proposal will be placed before the state cabinet before resubmitting the same to the Govt of India as per the assurances given in the common minimum programme of the alliance Government.