Jammu: Criticising the decision to revoke
the Dogra certificate order, the BJP on Wednesday accused the Centre
and J-K government of trying to appease the separatists.
"The coalition government in the state has totally
surrendered before separatists and the government is taking
every decision which proves that its Kashmir Policy is limited
to appeasing the separatists," BJP national executive member
Jitendra Singh told reporters after a protest on Dogra
certificate issue in Samba, 40 kms from here.
He accused the state government of kowtowing to the
diktats of separatists like Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
"NC-led coalition government is indulging in communal
and divisive politics and taking all decisions depending upon
diktats from separatist leaders like Geelani," he said, and
threatened to further intensify the protests if the demand to
revoke the order is not met.
Addressing the activists, who burnt effigies and
shouted anti-government slogans, Singh said the decision of
the state government on the direction of UPA over the issue of
Dogra Certificate has made it clear "that appeasement of
separatists is on top of the agenda of both the state and
central governments".
BJYM State President Rajesh Gupta claimed that "Jammu
lacked job opportunities as tourism, agriculture and private
sector had not flourished due to the Kashmir-centric approach
of the government".
The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP)
also announced an agitation from May 11 for restoration of the
Dogra certificate in Jammu region.
"The agitation will continue till the Dogra
certificate is not restored," party MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia
told reporters here.
Accusing the Congress of succumbing to pressure from
separatists and National Conference, Mankotia claimed that the
decision to revoke the order was "an attempt to divide the
people of Jammu".
In a January order, the Union Home Ministry had
announced relaxation for residents from Kashmir, Leh and
Ladakh regions under the geographical criteria while extending
the same relaxation for the Dogra people under the ethnic
tribe community.
Taking a cue from this order, state revenue minister
Raman Bhalla had directed the Tehsildars and Deputy
Commissioners of Jammu to issue the Dogra certificates, a move
which prompted angry reaction from separatists and some
political parties alleging this was a clear attempt to divide
the state on communal lines.
PTI
