Jammu, Dec 13: Harsh Dev Singh, former minister and president of J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP), has criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for creating uproar over the Rohingya settlement in Jammu.
Speaking at public meetings across various villages of the Nagrota constituency, Singh accused the BJP of hypocrisy and questioned its long-standing silence on the issue during its decade-long rule over Jammu and Kashmir.
“Massive protests erupted in 2015, 2016 and 2017 when the Rohingyas and Bangladeshi immigrants were settled in Jammu, receiving various forms of governmental support including water, power connections, ration cards and Aadhaar cards. Who was in power during that time? The BJP led both at the Centre and within the state,” Singh said in a statement issued here, adding that the party had a direct role in the matter and should not feign innocence.
He raised questions about the effectiveness of a committee formed during the BJP’s rule, which was supposed to work out the modalities for the deportation of illegal immigrants, including the Rohingyas. “What happened to that committee? Shouldn’t the BJP clarify why no action has been taken?” Singh asked.
The JKNPP chief accused BJP leaders of engaging in double standards, criticising them for switching their stance on immigration issues depending on whether they were in power or in opposition. “The people of Jammu are no longer easily deceived by the BJP’s ‘melodramatic rants’ and have recognised the party’s true intentions,” he said.
“The BJP is trying to create a smokescreen to distract from its failures,” Singh said, adding that the party was attempting to escape the growing dissatisfaction among residents, who feel their expectations have been betrayed. He said the BJP must address the issuance of PRCs and other civic amenities to Rohingyas during its rule, adding that these actions should not be brushed aside now.
