New Delhi: BJP on Saturday favoured setting up of Sainik Colony in Kashmir after its alliance partner PDP virtually rejected a proposal in this regard citing non-availability of land for non-state subjects.
Read: Committed to bringing back Kashmiri Pandits: Mehbooba Mufti
"BJP is in favour of setting up Sainik Colony in Kashmir as well as resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits. If a Sainik Colony can be set up in Jammu, why not in Kashmir?" BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.
He said BJP also favours early resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits who had to migrate out of the state in the wake of militancy in Kashmir.
On the establishment of Sainik Colony in Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said her government has not issued any direction in this regard.
"No land has been identified yet for establishing Sainik Colony. No direction has been issued for establishing it. The Sainik Board which is registered under an Act (of state assembly) has by-laws which say that land can only be allotted to state subjects. How can you even talk about bringing in non-state subjects?" she said.
Mehbooba said the position of the government is that it does not have any land available in Srinagar, Pulwama and Budgam districts for setting up such a colony.
