Jammu, Feb 17,: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Tuesday told the Legislative Assembly that not all migrants are genuine, stating that verification has revealed discrepancies in certain cases.
The remarks came in response to concerns raised by CPI(M) legislator Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who alleged that the government’s data regarding around 850 political migrants was incomplete and erroneous. Tarigami questioned the accuracy of official figures and said that despite the size of the CID network, it had taken nearly two years to compile data on political migrants.
He maintained that the government’s response lacked comprehensive information and sought clarity on the process adopted to identify and verify migrants.
Replying to the queries, the Deputy Chief Minister said that while many migrants are genuine, scrutiny and verification exercises have indicated that some claims were found to be false. He stated that the government is keen to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive assistance.
Choudhary further assured the House that the administration remains committed to the welfare of genuine migrants and that benefits are being extended from time to time in accordance with policy guidelines.
The exchange led to a brief debate in the House, with Tarigami seeking greater transparency in data compilation and verification mechanisms related to migrant welfare schemes. [KNT]
