National Conference on Sunday lashed out at the PDP-BJP Government for toying with the very sensitive checks and balances in the established norms of issuing Permanent Resident Certificates and said this “illogical, absurd intervention seemed to be a political ploy to dilute the process at the behest of certain political forces and entities.”In a statement to KNS NC Provincial President (Kashmir) Nasir Aslam Wani said the PDP-BJP State Government should explain why the process of issuing PRCs is being singled out to be devolved to the level of classrooms. “Why not birth certificates, Adhaar cards, Voter IDs and SC/ST Certificates? Why this sudden urge to remove crucial checks and balances in the process of issuing State Subject Certificates? This intervention is even more disconcerting given that BJP has traditionally advocated the scraping of the State Subject Laws that protects the demographic character of the State. Also given previous revelations of certain political parties and forces circumventing norms and regulations in issuance of PRCs in violation of law, these antics have caused a lot of apprehensions in the State,” he said.
Asking the State Government to explain how it would ensure non State Subjects would not be issued PRCs at the school level, Nasir said, “This was a dangerous step aimed at furthering an equally dangerous political agenda. There are various students studying in our schools, colleges and universities who are not State Subjects. Does the PDP-BJP Government intend to issue them Permanent Resident Certificates as well? Is this their new formula to dilute J&K's State Subject Laws? These are crucial questions that need to be answered by no less an authority in the Government but the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed himself. He has maintained a very conspicuous silence on the issue despite alarm and out alarm and outrage by various sections of the society.”
“Then there is the question of students of other districts studying in districts where their parents work and live. The established process of PRCs being issued in the domicile districts of the State Subjects is a norm that takes into account logic and legality. It is only proper to scrutinize the eligibility of the applicants in their districts of domicile. Any other method is not only absurd but also politically malignant and will not be tolerated at any cost. We will wait and see if the Chief Minister musters courage to clear his stand on the issue and if not we will explore all options to safeguard the interests of the State,” the NC Provincial President said.
He added that it seems PDP had also tactically agreed to BJP's traditional demand to do away with the State's Permanent Resident Laws during their power-sharing negotiations which were given a pretense of ideology and morality. “Has PDP given BJP a blank check to toy with the State's special status and Permanent Resident Laws? The prolonged silence of the Chief Minister on this issue is worrisome and certainly points in that direction. PDP should have absolutely no misgivings and should know that National Conference will not allow any dilution of the State Subject Laws,” he added.