Rajnath Singh guarded on Art 35A counter affidavit
JK TOUR ENDS Terming Rohingyas illegal immigrants, home minister says there is possibility of security threat
The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre on Tuesday appeared non-committal on filing counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court to defend ‘contentious’ Article 35-A, which provides special rights and privileges to the people of Jammu and Kashmir but at the same time, is discriminatory to the daughters of the state who marry ‘outsiders’.
While National Conference working president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah on 11 September hailed home minister Rajnath Singh's remark on Article 35-A and in this context, urged the Centre to file a counter affidavit in the Supreme Court, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, too, had been opposing any tinkering with it.
However, Rajnath Singh clarified here on Tuesday that he had referred to the sentiments of people from three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh while talking about Article 35-A.
On asking if the Centre will file a counter affidavit to defend Article 35-A, he said, “The PIL has already been filed by some people and whatever unfolds will be conveyed to you. I won’t say anything more than this.”
Speaking about Rohingyas, he termed them as illegal and said their possibility of being a threat to security can’t be ruled out.
“We have adopted a humane approach towards the migrants and displaced people. But we are strongly against illegal immigration. The government will take stern action if a person infringes geographical lines illegally,” he said.
“Let’s wait and see how the matter is pursued. We are pondering over the issue and some action will definitely be initiated,” he responded when asked to elaborate how the government will tackle this intricate issue.
Around 14,000 Rohingyas living in the country are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) while around 40,000 are said to be staying illegally.
On Pakistan, he said Islamabad doesn’t want to improve ties with India but it has to stop ceasefire violations because security forces have been authorised to retaliate stingingly.
“Pakistan is not showing interest in improving ties with India. It’s regularly resorting to ceasefire violations,” he said, before quickly adding that security forces have been given a free hand to respond stingingly to the provocations and therefore, Pakistan has no option than to stop firing.
On villagers living close to the Indo-Pak borders, he said that Centre has decided to set up an expert group to study their problems and challenges.
Government has already allocated a package of ₹2,000 crore for the rehabilitation of Pakistan-occupied J&K refugees and 6,000 transit accommodations will be set up in Valley at a cost of ₹920 crore for Kashmiri Pandits.
Besides physical barriers like fence, India will use technology like radars, sensors and cameras on the Indo-Pak borders to check Pakistani terrorists.