Author: Binoo Joshi
Publication: NewKerala.com
Date: March 5, 2008
URL: http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=29987
Introduction: After living for 60 years in
Jammu, they can vote only in parliamentary, not state elections
Over 50,000 Hindu families who fled Pakistan
to escape the 1947 partition violence have spent over 60 years in Jammu and
Kashmir - but they are still widely seen as "outsiders".
Frustrated, and upset with the authorities for not bailing them out, many
today say they would have been better off dead.
"At least there would have been no worries
about status and future," says Labha Ram, who heads a body of refugees
from Pakistan.
Although the displaced people are deemed to
be citizens of India, their only right is to vote during parliament elections.
But they cannot vote during state elections.
"Attempts to enrol our children in government
schools, professional institutions or get them other jobs result in questions
of our place of birth and permanent residents' certificate, a basic requirement
in Jammu and Kashmir, which we do not possess," Ram said.
This also means that the refugees, as they
are classified, cannot buy real estate in Jammu and Kashmir, a state governed
by article 370 of the constitution that prohibits "outsiders" from
owning property.
The issue has been compounded by the state
government's failure to confer the basic citizenship rights to these refugees
from Pakistan. Their belonging to the Hindu religion has seemingly worsened
the situation.
The main political parties in the state, including
the National Conference, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress
are wary of campaigning for their rights, fearing a possible backlash because
granting them citizenship has the potential to change the demographic character
of the Kashmir Valley where Muslims are in a majority.
"It is indeed a sensitive, humanitarian
issue. But we cannot allow outsiders to undermine the (position of the) natives
of the state," says National Conference leader Abdul Rahim Rather.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who leads
the Congress-PDP government in the state, had hinted at the possibility of
issuing domicile certificates to the refugees.
The promise is yet to translate into reality,
thanks to stiff opposition by other political groups.
The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) criticises the central and state governments over their plight.
"The Kashmiri leadership has been trampling
upon the rights of (Hindu) refugees from Pakistan for over 60 years,"
fumes Ashok Khajuria, the BJP state president.
This only results in sneers from the refugees.
"We have heard this umpteen times. The
(politicians) only want our votes in parliamentary elections, nothing more,"
concludes Ram Lubaya, another refugee.
