The refugees from West Pakistan who have recently got domicile certificates and the members of Bhartiya Janta party said they are looking forward to celebrating the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A next month.
The Government of India in August last year, abrogated Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu Kashmir and bifurcated the region into two territories- Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh.
Jammu Kashmir has been mostly under lockdown since, hundreds of Kashmiris continue to be under detention, the regional pro-establishment groups including National Conference, PDP, CPI(M) have all denounced the abrogation and said they will fight to get back the special status.
The Business community, Educational institutes in Kashmir have been shut since. Major sections of the local populace inclduing drivers, musicians, chefs, hotels, pony drivers, mostly working class has been workless since the abrogation.
More than 30,000 people have applied for the domicile certficates in Jammu Kashmir, that give them access to Government jobs and land owning in Kashmir.
The Tehsildar of Arnia was quoted by ANI as saying that 2,000 domicile certificates have been issued in the area.
People in jammu including activists from Dogra community have been protesting against the Domicile law.
“There is a simple format for issuing a domicile certificate. If any person has any document like ration card, educational qualification, Aadhar card, employee certificate which can prove that that person is living here for 15 years then certificate will be issued. In this area, we have issued around 2,000 domicile certificates,” he said.
In May, the Centre has notified ‘Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate Procedure Rules 2020’, prescribing the procedure for issuance of domicile certificates, which has been made necessary for appointment to any post under the Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir. (With inputs from ANI)