Omar Abdullah's government gives in, revokes dogra certificate order

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday 'superseded' the controversial Dogra certificate order two days before the Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani's ultimatum for its revocation was to end.

"In view of the order circulated by the Union ministry of home that the relaxation in physical standards of height and chest measurement has been extended to all the permanent residents of Jammu & Kashmir, the government orders (for Dogra certificate) stand superseded," reads the order issued by the commissioner /secretary of the revenue and relief department, J&K.

Geelani had issued ultimatum to government for revocation of Dogra certificate before April 30 otherwise face another round of agitation from next month. "The Dogra certificate is a conspiracy against the Muslims of Jammu which constitute 45% population in the region. If the order is not withdrawn by April 30, we will meet again to decide our course of action to launch peaceful struggle" Geelani  had said.

On March 27 the J&K minister of revenue and relief Raman Bhalla had issued a controversial order according sanction to the issuance of the certificate in favour of "all such residents of Jammu division who are otherwise eligible for grant of Permanent Resident Certificate (Procedure) Act."

Later, the order was modified and only those candidates from Jammu seeking employment in paramilitary forces, where relaxation in height and chest measurements is permissible under the recruitment rules, will be issued the certificate.

Sensing trouble, union home ministry amended its order and brought the residents of J&K in the ambit of concessions thus making the Dogra certificate irrelevant. However Geelani was not impressed saying only rescindment of the order will satisfy the people of the state.

Given the fresh threat for agitation, Omar decided to play it safe and appointed his close aide Nasir Aslam Wani as junior home minister to blunt the separatist’s tool.Last year 111 people died during unrest mostly in the security forces firing on the stone pelting mobs.

This year the government is not taking chances. On Monday Omar met top security honchos and discussed the situation threadbare. And now the government has put the full fledged home minister at helm to avoid the repeat of last year bloodshed.

"My aim is to bridge gap between the public and police. It has become more important (given the last year’s agitation) to improve the image of the police and make it more people friendly where in masses will have faith in them," said Nasir, who will hold home portfolio in addition to his earlier departments of tourism, housing.