STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: SOS International an organisation for PoK Displaced Persons has warned Bhartiya Janata Party and government at the Centre to desist from befooling innocent displaced people from Pak occupied Jammu Kashmir, who are demanding their due right of permanent settlement.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, the SOS International General Secretary, Dr Gurmeet Singh pooh-poohed Union Home Ministry’s statement that the package to PoK refugees was under consideration of the Central Government and Rajnath Singh was personally looking into the matter for early decision though the amount of relief may be less.
“Like the BJP leaders, the Union Home Ministry of BJP-led Central Government is also befooling the displaced people only to seek time and avoid wrath of the PoK refugees in ongoing Assembly elections in Jammu Kashmir,” he said.
“The Union Home Ministry’s statement on announcing a comprehensive rehabilitation package soon for 36,000 PoK refugees is mere an eye wash and an attempt to buy time so that BJP prospects in the Assembly elections are not marred in view of the resentment among displaced community over sending back of State Government’s Rs 9,096 crore relief package by the Centre,” Singh elaborated.
“Initially BJP claimed that package has not been sent back and after the S0S International exposed the claim by circulating copies of the original letter, the party said that we want to enhance the amount of relief and only suggestions have been sought in this regard while the third statement says that package is under consideration but amount would be less,” he added and asked BJP to clarify its stand on the issue.
Taking cognizance of Centre’s announcement of examining a new package for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, Singh said, “Package after package are being announced for the Kashmiri migrants while not even a penny has so far been given to the PoK refugees, who are the worst sufferers of displacement from their homes and hearths in the area, which is no more in the control of India today.”
Others who were present include Lalit Kumar, Roshan Lal, Sanjay Kohli, Harjeet Singh and Bishan Sarup Bakshi.
