STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The BJP led NDA Government has betrayed the refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 from PoK and those from West Pakistan in the recent package announced by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi for J&K.
Reacting to the PM package, former Minister and senior Congress leader, Raman Bhalla said that the package of one time settlement of refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 comprising financial assistance/ex-gratia relief of Rs 25 lakhs per family amounting to over Rs 9,000 crore alongwith several other concessions including reservation to their wards were recommended by the previous Congress-NC Coalition Government to the Centre, after hot pursuit by the Congress and various organization of refugees. The BJP which has promised to ensure one-time settlement of refugees for PoK including from Chhamb area, Mirpur, Poonch and Muzaffarabad Districts under illegal occupation of Pak besides promising citizenship to West Pakistan refugees before the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, has betrayed them after assuming power both at the Centre and sharing the same in the State.
Soon after coming to power, the Modi Government had returned the package to the State Government without any reason, adding insult to their injuries, he said and pointed out that the package of ex-gratia recommended by the Congress-NC Government for the PoK refugee families alone was to the extent of over Rs 9000 crore but the present Centre Government has failed to grant the same in the recent package of Rs 2,000 crores.
A delegation of refugees and displaced persons of 1947, 1965 and 1971 from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) areas met Bhalla and discussed the issue of ‘one time settlement’ of Pok refugees.
The State Government in consultation with representatives of PoK refugees had worked out a package of Rs 25 lakhs to each family as one time settlement, besides recommending reservations and concessions to the wards of these displaced people. The refugees complained that the present BJP led Central Government returned the package on lame excuse, just to scuttle the same.
The Home Ministry’s package of Rs 2000 crores for comprehensive rehabilitation package for 36,000 PoK refugee families is mere an eye wash and an attempt to insult their sentiments so that BJP prospects in the Assembly elections are not marred in view of the resentment among displaced community over sending back of State Government’s Rs 9,096 crore relief package by the Centre,” he elaborated.
