Srinagar: It is minus 4.5 degrees in Srinagar but that did not seem to deter independent legislator Engineer Rashid as he spent the whole night yesterday under the open sky outside Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti's residence in Srinagar.
The maverick legislator was protesting the government's controversial move to issue domicile certificates to refugees from West Pakistan who are settled in Jammu and Kashmir for more than six decades.
Rashid had announced a 48-hour long sit-in outside Ms Mufti's residence, on the banks of Dal Lake.
Engineer and his supporters tried to pitch a tent to protect themselves from the cold but chief minister's security disallowed that.
The opposition allege that the move is the first step to granting full citizenship rights to refugees after BJP state president Sat Pal Sharma indicated that gradually the West Pakistan refugees would be integrated in the state as is the case with refugees in other states. The statement was later modified by BJP and PDP.
Around 20,000 families from West Pakistan have settled in Jammu and Kashmir and their stay has always remained a contentious issue in the state.
The maverick legislator was protesting the government's controversial move to issue domicile certificates to refugees from West Pakistan who are settled in Jammu and Kashmir for more than six decades.
Rashid had announced a 48-hour long sit-in outside Ms Mufti's residence, on the banks of Dal Lake.
Engineer and his supporters tried to pitch a tent to protect themselves from the cold but chief minister's security disallowed that.
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The opposition allege that the move is the first step to granting full citizenship rights to refugees after BJP state president Sat Pal Sharma indicated that gradually the West Pakistan refugees would be integrated in the state as is the case with refugees in other states. The statement was later modified by BJP and PDP.
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Around 20,000 families from West Pakistan have settled in Jammu and Kashmir and their stay has always remained a contentious issue in the state.
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