J&K: Rift between coalition partners

As the achievements of the all parties' round table conference held in Srinagar last week remains to be seen, sharp differences of viewpoint expressed during the meet have further embittered relations between the ruling coalition partners in the state.

The all parties' meeting was convened by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to arrive at a consensus with regard to the grant of citizenship rights to refugees who poured into the state from neighbouring Pakistan in 1947, 1965 and 1971.

In fact, the otherwise sworn political enemies, the ruling People's Democratic Party and the National Conference joined hands to shoot down the proposals put forward by the Congress, the Panthers' Party and others from the Jammu region who advocated granting state subject rights to the refugees.

Mangat Ram Sharma, senior Congress leader and Cabinet minister picked up the gauntlet with the PDP and NC leaders seeking re-settlement rights for the refugees, which cannot be given unless they are granted state subject rights in the state.

Another ally in the ruling coalition, People's Democratic Front and Communist Party of India-Marxist too have declined to support state subject rights for the refugees, though they maintained that the Union government which has given them voting rights for Parliament elections should work for their welfare and open employment avenues for them in government.

It must be mentioned that Jammu and Kashmir has special citizenship laws known commonly as the permanent residents' rules. Under these rules, no non-state subject can buy immovable property here.

Although Azad said the all parties meeting had proved to be a healthy interaction between the various political parties of the state, the surfacing differences among the politicians based on strong regional sentiments have thrown up an uncomfortable reality for Azad.

It is important to recall that Azad has been running a multi-party coalition in the state with many of its constituents like the PDP, the Congress and the People's Democratic Forum publicly criticising and castigating each other.

It must be mentioned that refugees from Pakistan poured into the Jammu region of the state in 1947, 1965 and 1971 and have since been living in various places there.