Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Saturday termed the amendments to domicile law “another example of central governments toying around with J&K and its people, and a move bereft of any guarantee against demographic changes here”.
While calling the amendments cosmetic in nature, party said GoI has just changed the route for non-state subjects, while the destination is still open. “Instead of directly applying for the job, the non-state subjects will first be doled out a domicile certificate and then the job,” the party said in a press note adding that the provision of keeping domicile for anyone staying in J&K for 7 years and above has already accommodated lakhs of non-state subjects here. “There is not an iota of doubt that domicile law will change the demography of J&K and will essentially rob the rights of locals to jobs here,” it said.
“The silence of GoI over land rights in J&K is suspicious. Domicile Law is mute on the protection of land rights as there is nothing in the notification that offers protection to original subjects of J&K. Will J&K need to do another round of ‘begging’ before New Delhi does a ‘favour’ of speaking out on this concern?” reads the press note.
The party said that democratic rights of people are in abeyance and New Delhi has no excuse to continue its highhandedness.