JK govt to discuss Dogra certificate issue

Coming down heavily on separatist leaders for trying to create a fuss on the issue of Dogra certificate, Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday said that it will not allow anti-peace elements to deteriorate the situation in the Valley.

Accompanied by Revenue Minister of the state, the senior Congress leader and Minister for irrigation, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, while addressing a press conference in Srinagar, said that the state government would discuss the controversial Dogra certificate issue in the cabinet to allay apprehensions of alleged attempts to change the demography of the state.

He, however, made it clear that the order passed by the government will not be revoked.

“We have amplified the order and soon we are going to discuss the issue in the cabinet,” the Minister said.

“It is a wrong notion that government intends to alter the demography of the state via issuing Dogra certificates to the residents of Jammu. The Congress stands for the unity and integrity of the state and nobody will be allowed to divide the state,” he said.

“I assure you that this issue will be discussed in the cabinet. We will also consider inserting a column to declare the ethnicity of the state?s residents,” Taj Mohi-ud-Din said.

He blamed separatist leaders for making an issue ‘out of no issue’.

“Separatists are trying to instigate the people of Kashmir and we will not allow anybody to deteriorate the situation,” Taj said.

He said the Dogra certificates were only being issued for availing the relaxation in recruitment of paramilitary forces.

He further said that the government will not issue these certificates to Dogras from other parts of the country like Himachal Pradesh.

Pertinently, hardline Hurriyat separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for a strike on Monday against the order to issue Dogra certificates for residents of Jammu.

Geelani had alleged that the government was hatching a conspiracy and has been trying to change the demography of the state and to divide Jammu and Kashmir along religious lines.