BJP, JKNPP stage walkout from J&K Assembly over refugee issue

Members of opposition BJP, JKNPP and JSM today staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly protesting against the government's failure to extend one-time financial grant to refugees from Pakistan and Pak-occupied Kashmir.

As soon as the House assembled today, members of BJP, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and Jammu State Morcha (JSM) stood up on the benches and demanded that the refugees be immediately granted one-time financial package for their permanent rehabilitation in the state.

The members alleged that the government was deceiving the refugees who have been living in the state for the past 66 years, and sought its reply on the issue. As the government failed to reply, they walked out from the House.

"The government is misleading the refugees... Nothing has been given to them even 66 years after they had migrated to this side from PoK and Pakistan," JSM MLA Ashwani Kumar told reporters later. "They are living a miserable life... It is a big human rights violation... They are deprived of basic rights to live," he added.

BJP MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma demanded that the refugees be immediately granted financial assistance for their permanent rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, a group of PDP members led by Abdul Rehman Veeri staged a walkout from the House alleging that the state government had been ignoring the horticulture sector.

"The government has ignored the horticulture sector which generates second highest revenue for the state. Horticulture was instrumental in boosting the state's economy by over Rs 4,000 crore, but now it's being neglected," Veeri told reporters outside the Assembly.

Independent MLA Engineer Rashid was marshalled out from the House as he kept on seeking the government's reply on the change of faculty in Agricultural University in Srinagar.