JAMMU: National Conference on Thursday slammed PDP-BJP dispensation for failing in timely evacuation of border dwellers along International Border and Line of Control, resulting in death of eight civilians, including four of a family in Ramgarh Sector.
“The State Government owes an explanation for abdicating its responsibility in shifting people to safety despite reported warnings by armed forces in the wake of large-scale shelling from across the border”, Provincial President, Devender Singh Rana said while addressing a press conference here.
Former Minister and Senior State Vice President, Surjeet Singh Slathia and MLA Bishnah Dr Kamal Arora were present in the press conference.
Rana narrated woes and miseries of the people they met during their extensive visit to the forward areas, especially Ramgarh Sector and said the panic stricken residents were clueless about any arrangement made by the State Government. “We could see some socio-religious organizations looking after and providing food in temples to the dislocated people with administrative machinery missing from the scene”, he added.
The Provincial President said the situation is extremely volatile on borders and the recent killings have left the entire population in panic and psychologically wreck in entire belts of the LoC and International Border. For the first time, he said, heavy mortars were rained in Mendhar town and habitations got devastated. In this context, he made a mention of Ghali Mandi in Poonch district and said the entire market place got burnt due to shelling and none from the administration visited the area so far.
Rana said the BJP’s indifference towards border people can be gauged from the fact that lofty promises of allotting five marla plots besides constructing shelter sheds and bunker turned out a big joke, nothing has been done so far. “Had any of these measures been taken, the civilians would not have perished in the ongoing border skirmishes”, he said, adding that the BJP stalwarts only know how to create jingoism and show bravado. He said the jingoism and bravado over surgical strikes for political purposes ahead of UP and Punjab elections is highly deplorable.
The Provincial President said the BJP and its ally PDP have miserably failed in meeting challenges in Jammu and Kashmir and the duo has lost connect with the people in both the provinces, which are reeling under unprecedented crisis. “At a time border residents were falling like lame ducks due to shelling, the BJP stalwarts were hosting Diwali Milan”, he said adding that this speaks of their insensately and only motivation of being glued to power.
Slathia gave a vivid account of border miseries and vouched for de-esclating the situation by engaging Pakistan in a meaningful dialogue.
Addressing the press conference, Bishnah MLA Dr Kamal Arora said that Arnia Sector has been hot bed of border skirmishes.
He said that border residents are in dire need of safe shelters, food, bedding and medical facilities in view of the continued shelling.