By IANS,
Jammu : The Congress in Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday took strong exception to National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah’s remarks on the Dogra certificate and his expression that it is “discriminatory” to Kashmiri society.
“Without understanding the issue, Abdullah has made these comments as if the issuance of this certificate to the people desirous of getting into the paramilitary forces in Jammu region was something of a discrimination to the people of the valley,” a Congress minister told IANS on condition of anonymity.
“This is unfortunate, we have taken up this matter with our leaders in New Delhi,” he added.
Abdullah had asked the state government to “review” the issue of Dogra certificate at a function in Anantnag in south Kashmir Tuesday.
Another senior Congress leader, declining to be named, said: “At least, he should have studied the order and its context and relevance before rushing to the media with his unwarranted comments.”
Dogra certificates will enable their holders to seek reservations in recruitment in the paramilitary forces.
According to an order issued by union Home Minister P. Chidambaram Jan 11, these certificates would be available to Dogras, Marathas and people living in the hilly regions of Jammu and Kashmir like the cold desert Ladakh region.