SHAM CASTIGATES BJP
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Linking Rs 9,096 crore package for Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Chhamb refugees with the citizenship rights of persons displaced from West Pakistan, the Center has returned back the proposal submitted by National Conference-Congress Government with several objections.
Senior Congress leader and Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma on Saturday castigated the BJP Government for the action, saying the Center does not want to help the refugees from PoK and Chhamb.
On 16th October, Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet had approved the financial package for a one-time full and final settlement of the bonafide state subject PoK-displaced and Chhamb-displaced persons for being recommended to the Government of India.
The proposal included providing funds to the tune of Rs. 9,096 crore for payment of compensation as one time settlement in favour of 36,384 PoK/Chhamb displaced at the rate Rs. 25 lakh per family.
The Cabinet had approved payment of ex-gratia compensation in favour of PoK DP families and Chhamb DPs of 1965 and 1971 at the rate of Rs 25 lakh per family against the losses suffered by them on account of immovable and moveable properties left out in Pakistan.
The recommendations also included job reservation in paramilitary forces/army and other Central Government services and reservation in professional colleges outside the State for the children of PoK and Chhamb refugees and inclusion of left out families for providing incentives.
Sham Lal Sharma while talking to STATE TIMES had said that the matter of West Pakistan refugees shall be discussed separately. “Our fight to get justice for them continues and we will restore their rights.”
On Saturday, while addressing a huge gathering of people at Jourian, Sham Lal Sharma said that as per his knowledge, the BJP Government in the Center has raised serious queries on the rehabilitation proposal of 1947, 1965 and 1971 displaced persons, which was sent by the State Government after duly approved by the Cabinet. The proposal has reportedly been clubbed with the issue of refugees of West Pakistan which is altogether different and cannot be connected with the PoJK as these people are State Subjects, he said, adding that the West Pakistan refugees are not the residents of J and K, thus their issue has to be dealt by the Central Government itself and State Government has no role whatsoever.
Questioning the BJP’s stand on the issue, the minister said that the party which always advocated the cause of rehabilitation of the displaced persons and continues to corner the successive governments in the State for ignoring the plight of these people, but their sympathy with these people has proved a stab on the back. Clubbing the non-State issue with the proposal of the PoJK displaced persons is a direct attempt to sabotage the issue and is a double standard on the part of BJP. It indicates the ill intention and non-serious approach of the BJP Government in the Center. This will have a serious repercussion as lakhs of displaced persons, who are fighting for their just cause, will teach a lesson to the BJP, if they do not get their dues, said the minister.
Saying that the issue of PoJK displaced persons remained hanging in the air for over six decades, Sham maintained that Congress, which had the agenda for resolving this long pending issue maintained tremendous pressure on its Coalition partner, National Conference and was able to get the issue of rehabilitation package approved by the State Cabinet and referring the same to the Central Government for sanction. But, it is unfortunate that the issue has not been dealt as per its merit and sensitivity by the BJP Government and unnecessary connected it with non-State issue. He has warned the BJP Government in the Center to approve the package without any further delay and tinkering or connecting it with other issues is not correct, said the Minister.
He said the BJP and its leadership are more concerned about achieving Mission 44 plus, but the promises made by it with the people of Jammu and Kashmir before the Parliamentary Elections have totally been ignored adding the party is only concentrating on grabbing the power by hook or by crook and deviating from its original agenda. He said the party has even compromised with its basic principles for grabbing the power and it has no problem even for joining hands with the separatists to whom they used to criticise all along. This is a very dangerous move, especially for the Jammu people, which need to be thwarted with full might in the election, said the minister.
He also opened Congress election offices at Bhalwal Brahamana and Jourian in presence of hundreds of workers.