STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A rally of Displaced Persons (DPs) from Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) took place at Maharaja Hari Singh Park. Under the leadership of Captain (Retd) Yudhvir Singh Chib, the event aimed to spotlight the ongoing challenges faced by PoJK DPs, who have been advocating for long-pending resolutions to their issues.
A large number of DPs participated in the rally, carrying placards, banners, and flags. They attempted to march towards the Secretariat to present their grievances but were stopped by a police presence near Dogra Chowk.
The rally highlighted the historical grievances of the PoJK DPs, who claim that territory was ceded to Pakistan by the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1947 and additional areas were gifted during the Indo-Pak War of 1971 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The DPs expressed their frustration with what they perceive as ongoing neglect and discrimination from successive governments, particularly under Congress leadership. They voiced hopes that the current BJP government would address their concerns more effectively.
The DPs acknowledged the relief provided by the BJP government, including the allocation of Rs 750 crores and Rs 5.5 lakh per DP. However, they are seeking the release of additional funds recommended by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which would total Rs 30 lakhs per DP.
Captain Yudhvir Singh Chib urged the DPs to unite and support BJP candidates in the upcoming elections, scheduled for September and October 2024.
He stressed that backing BJP would help ensure that their concerns are addressed and improve their representation in the state government.
The rally also included specific demands from the DPs. They requested the allocation of agriculture land and residential plots (minimum 10 Maria’s per DP) to support their livelihood and housing needs. Additionally, they sought further assistance under the PM Awas Yojna to aid in house construction. They appealed for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to benefit from reservations in government services and higher education.
Furthermore, they requested increased representation in the state assembly, proposing a minimum of 12 seats for PoJK DPs. Finally, they called for the immediate release of pending payments amounting to Rs 5.5 lakhs per DP, which have been delayed despite being processed by the District Administration.
The rally was attended by J.P. Sharma, Kuldeep Singh Chib, Kulbir Singh Chib, Sakandya Devi, Kehar Singh Chib, Master Raghunath Singh, Ch. Rattan Lal, Thoru Ram Chib, Sham Singh Chib, Hoshnaki Ram, Kamal Sharma, and Ranjit Singh Chib.
