Rehabilitation policy for Kashmiri militants anti-national: BJP

JAMMU - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday slammed the Jammu and Kashmir government for approving what it termed an “anti-national” policy aimed at the return of Kashmiri militants from Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Responding to the government’s approval of a rehabilitation policy to grant amnesty to the militants and facilitate their return and give financial aid to them, BJP’s legislature party leader Chaman Lal Gupta told IANS: “It’s an anti-national act, and we will oppose it tooth and nail.”

Gupta said his party would devise a strategy to oppose the policy.

“How can we tolerate a policy which seeks to grant money and rehabilitation to the terrorists who went to Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir for waging a war against the Indian nation,” he added.

State unit president of the party Shamsher Singh Manhas said the state government had made it a habit to go in for one anti-national act after another.

“First, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah challenged accession of the state with India and now his government is bent upon importing all the terrorists from across,” he added.

The Jammu and Kashmir government Monday approved a rehabilitation policy for militants who had crossed over to Pakistani Kashmir for arms training but now seek to return home.

According to the policy, any militant desirous of returning could inform his family or relatives here of his intention.

However, a senior minister, said on condition of anonymity that the process would not be easy and those seeking to return would have to undergo a series of screenings before they are granted permission.

The central home ministry and intelligence agencies would also be involved in the screening process.

The policy, meant to facilitate the return and rehabilitation of about 3,000 Kashmiri militants, was announced by the chief minister in February this year, and endorsed by the central government.