Jammu, Apr 4: The main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) today castigated the State Government for denying passports to relatives of those involved in militancy related activities and demanded constitution of screening committee to examine the applications withheld on this account.
 Expressing dissatisfaction on reply to his question on the issue, PDP member Murtaza Ahmad Khan created ruckus in Legislative Council and exchanged  heated arguments with senior Minister, Ali Muhammad Sagar. He ended his protest by staging a walkout. 
 Earlier Khan demanded constitution of screening committee to ascertain the militant link of applicants whose passport clearances have been withheld.
 “As per reported connection of applicants families with militancy at some point of their life, the grant of passport has been denied to various applicants,” Sagar earlier said.
 Sagar said according to guidelines for the cases of relatives of a militant who had died 10 years ago, their cases should be cleared unless there is any adverse report.
 “The applicants whose militant relatives have surrendered before 12 years and have joined mainstream and those relatives of militants who want to perform the Hajj after clearance of CID,  can be considered for passport clearance,” Sagar said.
 Elaborating, he said no passport can be cleared to an applicant whose militant relative is still in Pakistan administer Kashmir (PaK) unless in exceptional circumstances on a case- to- case basis.
 Khan refused to accept the statement and wanted to know whether the Government has done any survey for identifying militants in PaK, and what mechanism has been adopted.
 “The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah himself declared a policy for rehabilitation of persons who crossed the border. As per rehabilitation policy, we received certain applications from the militants who crossed over to other side of the border for seeking rehabilitation and we use that record”, Sagar said.
 “On one hand Government claims to have offered rehabilitation policy for militants who crossed the border and on other it was denying grant of passport to their relatives for none of their mistake,” Sagar added.
 Meanwhile MLC Naresh Gupta also brought into notice case of an 80- year old man, who had applied four times for passport for performing Hajj but was denied the same.
 Taking cue from Gupta, Congress member Jahagir Mir said that, “80 years is peak of life. If a person wants to meet his relatives or perform Hajj, why Government was preventing him from doing so?,” he asked.   
 Responding to this case, Sagar said that many a times CID may commit mistakes. “But if such cases are brought into notice of the Government we can work it out,” Sagar said. 
 “If Government itself admits that CID can commit mistakes then how can a common man expect justice?,” Khan said.   
 Expressing dissatisfaction over the reply, Khan exchanged heated arguments with Sagar.
 Attempts by the Deputy Chairman to pacify them proved futile. Later shouting anti- government slogans, Khan demanded constitution of screening committee to examine the pending cases.
 Rejecting the demand, Sagar said, “only Government has to decide on this and look into the matter and not Khan or PDP.”
 Irked over Sagar’s remarks, Khan said, “should I not raise the public issue in the House. I won’t sit as mute spectator.”
Expressing dissatisfaction over the reply and denial of constitution of screening Committee, Khan later staged walkout.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 4 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 4 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST