Centre slammed over new domicile rules for J-K
SRINAGAR: The J-K domicile order, notified on Wednesday, evoked criticism from almost all mainstream political parties with even those who promised people relief and reconciliation through this order coming out in the open vocally expressing their opposition to it.
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah said the new law was an insult to the people as there were none of the promised protections.
He also lashed out at the timing of the notification.
“At a time when all our efforts and attention should be focused on COVID outbreak, the government slips in a new domicile law for J-K. Insult is heaped on injury when we see the law offers none of the protections that had been promised,” he said in a series of tweets.
Alluding to the JK Apni Party leader, Omar Abdullah said the law was so hollow that even politicians with Delhi’s blessings were forced to criticise it.
Altaf Bukhari, chief of JK Apni Party, has said that the timing of the notification is ill-timed and has been issued when the country is battling Coronavirus.
“It should be put on hold,” he said. Bukhari, who had said in public that the Prime Minister had promised protection of domicile, jobs and land rights for the residents of J-K, now said: “It is most unfortunate that such an important order has been issued at a time when the whole country is battling for its survival and is under strict lockdown to stem the spread of deadly Coronavirus disease.
“While JKAP had been vehemently demanding Domicile Rights on land and jobs for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the order issued by the Union government reflects a casual exercise carried out at bureaucratic level without taking aspirations and expectations of people into consideration.”
“This Order in its entirety is a casual attempt, cosmetic in nature, to hoodwink the people of
Jammu and Kashmir who genuinely believed that post Oct.31, 2019 their rights and privileges in the matter of employment and other rights would remain as it had been,” the JKAP President added.
Congress leaders in J-K said the BJP leadership in Delhi has demolished even those it was apparently projecting.
“What do those say now who claimed that they were a local party with a national agenda?” said a top Congress leader.