J-K domicile rules: Centre trying to change demography of UT, claim politcial parties

Several political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the National Conference, on Tuesday demanded roll back of the new domicile rules, saying the BJP-led central government is sneakily speeding up new ordinances to redesign the Union Territory's demography while the country is battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday decided to reopen "fresh registration" for Kashmiri migrants and displaced persons, a move which was welcomed by the BJP and Kashmiri Pandit community.

The decision paves the way for inclusion of bonafide people who migrated from the Union Territory.

People belonging to West Pakistan, Valmikis, women marrying outside communities, non-registered Kashmiri migrants and displaced people will soon get domicile under a new set of rules issued by the administration.

"In these severely difficult times of the global pandemic, which the world is struggling to deal with, the government of India is sneakily speeding up new ordinances to effect demographic changes in Jammu and Kashmir and turn its residents into a minority in due course of time," a statement issued by the Hurriyat Conference faction headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said.

The new rules come when people are "already under duress, it said.

The Centre believes that at this time the world is distracted by the pandemic to take notice. We fervently appeal to the global community and people with a conscience in India, to wake up to these happenings in J&K and respond to our situation in the light of ethics and principles of justice," the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat Conference said.

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the CPI(M) alleged that the move to bring new domicile rules was part of the BJP government's ploy to redesign the Union Territory that is bound to further widen the gulf between it and the rest of the country.

The party said that at a time when people are seriously concerned about the spread of the coronavirus, the BJP government is busy in redesigning the Union Territory.

The fresh domicile notification issued on Monday, while the region is under the grip of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, is extension of the unconstitutional and undemocratic assault carried out by the BJP government on August 5 last year, senior CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said in a statement here.

The Centre on August 5 last year had revoked the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and divided it into Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh
The All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) said, "It was a Red Letter Day in real sense for the entire Kashmiri Pandit community as it now feels connected and their sentiments respected by the present central government