'Rashid, separatists must correct their figures'

Rajiv Chuni, the chairman of SOS international - an organisation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir refugees settled in Jammu - has accused Kashmiri separatists and mainstream politicians of misleading the people.

Rajiv Chuni, the chairman of SOS international - an organisation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir refugees settled in Jammu - has accused Kashmiri separatists and mainstream politicians of misleading the people.

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"The total number of refugees in Jammu region is only 70,000," he said. "How can a meager number of people change the demography of the state," he asked.

Chuni's statement comes in reaction to comments by independent legislator from Langate and separatist leader Asiya Andrabi who said New Delhi's recommendation of giving citizenship rights to West Pakistan refugees was aimed at changing the demography of the state.

Although they said nothing about the POK refugees who enjoy full rights in the state, Chuni accused the Valley-based leaders of getting the numbers wrong. "Valley separatists and even the mainstream politicians are mixing up the issue, by counting those displaced from Valley also and are projecting a wrong number of 12 lakh people which is false," he said.