STATE TIMES NEWS
R S PURA: BJP is committed to address the problems of all categories of refugees in Jammu and Kashmir. This was stated by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh while addressing a series of public meetings at Dindeykalan, Baas Pur Bangla and other places in R.S Pura and Suchetgarh Assembly Constituencies here on Friday. He accused National Conference and Congress of misleading people and spreading disinformation about BJP’s stand on the issue.
Singh said, “All through the last six decades even when BJP was not in power, it has consistently struggled for the rights of refugees. He said, while over 15 lakh refugees from Pak occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) have still not received the compensation promised to them by successive governments, BJP is categorical in its stand to provide a special package for this category of refugees and reserve four out of 24 Assembly seats in lieu of the part of State under illegal Pak occupation”.
Dr Jitendra Singh alleged, the National Conference-Congress coalition in the State sought to play mischief by sending to the Centre a demand for a package for PoJK refugees just when the Election Code of Conduct was about to be imposed. He asked “If the National Conference-Congress government was genuinely sincere to address the problem of PoJK refugees, why it had to wait for six long years?” The truth is that the National Conference-led government never wanted to benefit these refugees because it did not consider them a part of their vote bank and therefore simply as a mere cosmetic gesture, it sent the request to the Centre at a time when the request could not have been fulfilled, he added. However, he emphasised, soon after the Election Code of Conduct is over, the BJP-led Narendra Modi Government at the Centre will follow-up this issue in the right earnest and with full sincerity.
Similarly, Singh alleged that the West Pakistan refugees had also not been granted their citizenship and voting rights over the last 66 years, because the successive ruling parties in the State were not confident of securing their mandate in the Assembly Elections. As far as the displaced Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community is concerned, Singh said, even while in opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party constantly worked for their rehabilitation and even today, the Party strives for their safe and dignified return to the Valley.
Referring to RS Pura as a land of brave soldiers and courageous people, Singh said, due to its close proximity to the Indo-Pak border, the people here act as custodians of Indian Territory all through the year and have set an example of holding the forte even in most hostile situations resulting from cross-border firing and infiltrations. “The entire Indian nation holds the people of this area in high reverence”, he added and also paid glowing tributes to Army and Para-military forces which have always stood by the people of this area in the most adverse circumstances.
Emphasising BJP’s concern for Dalits, Scheduled Castes and weaker sections, Singh said, the Government of India under Narendra Modi had many plans which could not be implemented because of lack of cooperation by the State Government for which he said, it was essential to have BJP in the State so that it could ensure closer coordination with the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre.
BJP candidates Sham Choudhary and Gagan Bhagat accompanied Dr Jitendra during the tour.
