In written replies to questions by Amar Singh of Samajwadi Party and Majeed Memon of NCP in Rajya Sabha, junior Ministers of Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Kiren Rijiju said that Jammu and Kashmir has reported that there is "no such proposal at present to grant domicile certificate".
While maintaining West Pakistan refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir are Indian citizens, Ahir also said the state government has reported that "there is no such proposal at present under consideration of the state government for the West Pakistan refugees".
Ahir said unlike Displaced Persons (DPs) of Chhamb of 1947, West Pakistan refugees have not been granted state subject status. "As such, they do not participate in the state Assembly elections and are not entitled to any employment under the state government."
However, in Jammu, Laba Rama Gandhi, who heads an organisation of West Pakistan refugees, said that they had been issued identity cards for purpose of employment in paramilitary forces and defence forces.
There are nearly 20,000 families which had settled from West Pakistan after Partition.
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