JAMMU: Former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad has again written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the hardships faced by the residents of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts in the wake of unprovoked firing by Pakistan thus forcing migration at some pockets on the border.
During his second visit to the Pak firing affected villages on the International Border and Line of Control, Azad assured that he will again take up their issues at the appropriate level as also with the Prime Minister.
The residents demanded alternative residential plots for their safe living and continuing with their agricultural activities.
Azad said the villagers also demanded parity in the payment of ex-gratia relief to the kin of those killed in firing and declaration of 5-8 km belt of International Border as “Backward Area” for the purpose of reservation in education and employment.
Soon after, the former Chief Minister took up the matter with the Prime Minister in a letter with copies forwarded to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Azad wrote the Prime Minister ” I would like to draw your attention to my earlier letter of even number dated August 29th, 2014 seeking your intervention for addressing the grave and monumental hardships faced by the residents of border areas of Districts Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch due to the unprecedented spurt in the ceasefire violations by the Pakistani forces.
As you are aware that Pakistan’s focus in the last four five months, has been resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate heavy firing and shelling on our territory, targeting civilian population living in villages, towns and hamlets along the International Border and Line of Control. Notwithstanding the lull in the month of September, Pakistan has once again resumed heavy and unprovoked firing into our territory, seemingly with increased ferocity and intensity, resulting into civilian casualties and injuries to jawans and civilians, alongside huge damage to property and crops.
To take stock of the situation and apprise myself of the ground situation, I once again undertook a tour of the affected villages in the Arnia sector of District Jammu on 07.10.2014. It was the same tell-tale story of misery and plight evident all around, which I saw during the last visit on 28th August, 2014. A general state of uncertainty, fear and despondency prevails in the entire border belt with people deeply concerned about their safety, security and peaceful existence. Economic activity has taken a severe beating. Agricultural activity and harvesting, which is undertaken these days are the worst hit. Educational activity has been badly impacted thereby jeopardizing the career prospects of youth.
I also took this opportunity to interact with the people, including women, sick and old, at their respective places as well as the makeshift camps established by local administration at safer locations.
During the interface, people once again raised a vehement pitch for immediate allotment of plots at safer locations where they can shift their families, including women, children and sick whenever such untoward situation develops on the border. In addition to this, the following demands were also highlighted:
i) Parity in the payment of ex-gratia relief to the kins of those who are killed in Pakistani firing and terrorist violence
ii) Adequate Compensation for inability to cultivate the land beyond border fencing,
iii) Special recruitment drive in Army/Paramilitary forces/State Police
iv) Coverage of Insurance Schemes for life, property, crops, livestock, etc.
v) Declaration of 5-8 km belt of International Border as “Backward Area” for the purpose of reservation in education and employment in accordance with the norms of the State Government.
As emphasized in my previous letter, all these demands need to be addressed at the earliest with utmost urgency and sensitivity. State Government also intends to seek redressal of the problems confronting the residents of the border belt; however, budgetary constraints are coming in its way to address these issues.
I hope the Hon’ble Prime Minister will agree that support of Central Government is most crucial for addressing the issues relating the border populace.
Keeping in view the above, I would once again request to ask the concerned authorities to take up the issue of relentless and unprovoked ceasefire violations with Pakistan in a forceful manner so that the hardships faced by our people come to an end. It is also requested that suitable directions may be issued to the concerned ministries for early solution to the problems of border residents.”