JAMMU: The displaced persons (DPs) from Pak occupied areas of Mirpur, Muzaffrabad, Kotli and Poonch held protest at Exhibition Ground near Press Club here on Saturday.
The displaced persons (DPs) from Pak occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) under the banner of Jammu Kashmir PoJK Refugees Front 1947, 65 and 71, led by Rachhpal Singh Chib (president) assembled near Press Club staged the protest.
They were shouting slogans in support of their demands. They also raised slogans against former Provincial Rehabilitation Officer (PRO) and Additional Commissioner, Jammu for not implementing the economic package sanctioned by the Union Government on 9th August, 2000.
Rachhpal Singh Chib, President of the Front, while addressing the gathering extended thanks to the Prime Minister and Minister in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh for their efforts in announcing package for the PoJK DPs.
However, the State BJP stalwarts have failed to ensure implementation of the economic package, he said adding that BJP ministers adopted the same attitude for which the 20 lakh refugees punished the NC-Congress alliance in Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections of 2014 and 2015.
He also criticised the former PRO and the then Additional Commissioner in the office of Divisional Commissioner Jammu and alleged that another package announced about fifteen years back was not implemented.
Chib said over 60,000 families of PoJK have been deprived of the economic benefits granted by the then Union Government. These officials misused their official position by withholding the package money, harming the interests of nearly 20 lakh population, he added.
He demanded to take away the portfolio of Ex-Officio Provincial Rehabilitation Officer of Jammu Region which has been denied despite providing documentary evidence of Fraud and Discrimination with the refugees.