Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): The separatists have opposed the Indian parliament’s proposal to permanently settle Pakistani refugees in northern state Jammu and Kashmir, saying it was an attempt to tamper with state’s demography.
Separatist leaders met in Srinagar city and discussed recommendations made by the parliament panel to grant permanent resident status to refugees from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
Chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said that they had decided to constitute a special group to make people aware about it.
“Any step that is likely to impact the provincial legislation (law) and future shouldn’t be undertaken until Kashmir fundamental problem of Kashmir is addressed,” said Farooq.
He added that some people want to impose agenda.
“The objective behind this policy is that some people are talking about demographic changes in Jammu and Kashmir and some people want to impose their agenda,” added Farooq.
Thousands of people from Pakistan-administered Kashmir flocked to Indian side when both the nations went to war in 1947 over Muslim-majority Kashmir immediately after gaining independence from Britain.
Both the nuclear-armed nations rule Kashmir in part but claim it in full and have fought three wars over it.
