NEW DELHI, Aug 6: Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said on Tuesday that the non-permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir also started to enjoy all the rights enshrined in Constitution after the abrogation of Article 370.
In a written reply to the question raised by MP Vivek Thakur in Lok Sabha on the benefits extended to society post-repealing of Article 370, MoS Rai initially highlighted the situation before the abrogation.
“As a result, they did not have the right to own property, employment by the State Government and right to cast vote in the legislative assembly and local body elections of Jammu and Kashmir. However, Displaced Persons of Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) were considered as permanent residents of J&K,” Rai added.
He further said that after the abrogation of Article 370, all rights enshrined in the Constitution of India are now available to everyone.
“All rights including the right to own property, employment under the UT Government and right to cast vote in the legislative assembly and local body elections of Jammu and Kashmir are now available to the then non-permanent residents such as West Pakistani Refugees, Valmiki community and Safai-karmacharis based on their eligibility,” he said.
In August 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the region into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. (Agencies)
