Srinagar, October 6: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday questioned the “sudden” action being taken against Rohingyas in the Union Territory, saying they were being “targeted for no reason”.
Abdullah also said the Jammu and Kashmir government would not implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), asserting that any such legislation should first be debated and enacted by Parliament.
“If you have the courage, bring a law in Parliament. Debate it in Parliament. See if it passes in Parliament or not,” Abdullah said while speaking to reporters in Srinagar.
On the ongoing action against Rohingyas, the Chief Minister said there was a distinction between those who had entered India from Bangladesh without permission and Rohingyas who had been given shelter in the country.
“People who have come from Bangladesh without permission, it is a different matter for them. But the Rohingyas, who are being targeted for no reason, when they were deported from their country, we gave them a place here. We allowed them to live here until their country’s situation improves,” Abdullah said.
He questioned the timing of the action, saying he found it “strange” that action was being taken against them suddenly.
“I find it strange to take action against them suddenly. But we do not have it in our hands. This is the Government of India,” he said.
Abdullah further said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police was also not under the control of the Union Territory government in this matter.
On the INDIA bloc’s campaign over alleged deletions from voter lists, Abdullah said the issue would continue to be raised.
He referred to the Supreme Court seeking responses from the Election Commission and the Government of India over the allegations concerning deletions from electoral rolls.
Speaking about mobile connectivity, Abdullah said the J&K Cabinet had decided to allot land to BSNL in areas where mobile coverage is currently unavailable.
The move is aimed at facilitating the installation of mobile towers and improving connectivity in uncovered areas.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the laying of utility ducts along roads to prevent repeated digging for different infrastructure projects.
He said ducts would allow departments dealing with water, electricity and telecommunications to use common infrastructure, reducing the need to repeatedly dig up newly constructed roads.
“Where the road will be built, it would be better to use the duct so that there will be no need to dig the road again and again,” Abdullah said.
