In Jammu & Kashmir, political parties oppose ‘plan’ to change ‘permanent residency certificate’ norms 

Satya Pal Malik.

New Delhi: While opposing the “plan”, purportedly initiated by the Jammu & Kashmir administration to bring changes in the rules for granting non-residents of the state permanent residency certificate, the state’s political parties have warned of “2008-like agitation”. Political parties have expressed concern over the initiative while calling J&K a sensitive state.

Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has warned the administration to withdraw any order regarding changes to avoid public uprising. “This time, when the governor has issued similar unwanted orders on the PRC rules and J&K Bank, I warn the governor’s administration of a 2008-like public uprising if it does not withdraw both the orders immediately and forthwith.”

“An unwanted order for land transfer was also issued in 2008 and a public uprising across Kashmir forced the then government to withdraw the order,” she added.

Similarly, former chief minister Omar Abdullah and president of People’s Conference Sajad Lone have appealed to the governor, Satya Pal Malik, not to make any change in the PRC norms.

“We are obligated to write to you at a time when you are mulling changes to the permanent resident certificate rules. Our party, the National Conference, is of the opinion that this is an attempt to distort the demography of the state and finds it detrimental to J&K’s special status,” Abdullah wrote to Malik.

In a response to the appeal made by Abdullah, Malik has assured that the government is not considering any change to the rules. “I would like to mention that government is not making our even considering any change to the PRC Act governing permanent resident certificates in the state. It is an integral part of the legal structure of Jammu & Kashmir and there is no attempt whatsoever to tamper it,” Malik wrote to Omar.

“I would like to highlight that no change in the procedural rules governing issuing of PR certificate will ever be done without larger consultations with all stakeholders. I will assure you that nothing will be done to modify the purified for issuing PR certificates,” the letter added.

Related