We are awaiting CM’s word on Rohingya eviction: Koul

TNN Bureau. Updated: 2/20/2017 4:17:36 PM Front Page

BIVEK MATHUR
JAMMU: Amid raging controversy over settlement of foreign immigrants, especially Burmese and Bangladeshis in Jammu, state BJP today said that it will force the “illegal settlers” to leave Jammu soon.
“We wouldn’t let them settle or multiply in Jammu. We will soon put all of them out of the precincts of Jammu and Kashmir,” Ashok Koul, BJP State Organizing Secretary (Organization) told The News Now.
He said the BJP has already discussed this issue several times with the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti while her reply over the issue is awaited till date.
Meanwhile, Koul said that the state BJP is ready with a blueprint and strategy to plan the repatriation of the refugees back to their countries.
“The State BJP is fully prepared with a strategy to deal with these illegal settlers but as of now, I don’t want to tell anything to media persons,” Koul said.
According to him, some locals NGOs have been assisting the Rohingyas get settled in Jammu district. He even named a person, Liaqat, who according to him, is heading an NGO and assisting the Rohingyas to get permanently settled in Jammu.
On why BJP, which is in government, not cancelling the registration of such NGOs, Koul said, “May be we are planning about the same but it is not necessary that I will tell everything to media.”
On NC blaming BJP to instigate a massacre in Jammu by organizing a seminar on “Rohingyas and Bangladeshi Refugees Changing Demography of Jammu”, he said, “It is National Conference and Congress party responsible for the illegal settlement of immigrants in Jammu.
To another question as to why the BJP remained silent on this issue in the past, he said, “On different occasions and from different platforms, our leaders are highlighting the concerns associated with the increasing population of Rohingyas in Jammu. We were never silent on this issue.”
Pertinently, on February 18, the Department of Good Governance, a state unit of BJP organized a seminar on “Demography Change of Jammu—A Challenge” in Jammu which was attended by State BJP President, Sat Sharma (CA), BJP State Organizing Secretary (Organization) Pandit Ashok Koul, MLA Kathua, Rajiv Jasrotia, BJP leader Prof Virender Gupta among other politicians.
In the seminar, all the BJP leaders blamed NC and Congress governments for the settlement of foreign immigrants in Jammu and also discussed about the looming threats associated with the rising number of refugees in Jammu.
NC Spokesperson Junaid Azim Matoo reacted to the BJP’s allegations on micro blogging site Twitter and said that BJP is trying to instigate a massacre in Jammu region by organizing such seminars.
He wrote, “BJP's ‘seminar’ on Rohingya and Bangladeshi Refugees ‘changing demography of Jammu’ is nothing short of instigating a massacre! Beware!”


Comment on this Story