STATE TIMES NEWS
VIJAYPUR: Former Minister and Sr State Vice President National Conference Surjeet Singh Slathia on Thursday assailed PDP-BJP Government for ditching PoK refugees by downsising their one-time settlement package from Rs 9,025 crore to just Rs 2,000 crore.
“The BJP Government at the Centre and the PDP-BJP dispensation in Jammu and Kashmir has not so far justified as to why the recommendations of the Omar Abdullah led government in 2014 were ignored while formulating the so-called package”, Slathia said while addressing a huge rally of party workers at Vijaypur this afternoon. Slathia said the package of Rs 9,025 crore recommended by the National Conference Government was well considered, taking into consideration the plight and sufferings of the PoK refugees for decades. “After considering pleas of the State-Subject PoK Refugees, the Omar led Government had approved Rs 25 lakh per family as one-time settlement for over 36,000 families”, he said and castigated the insensitive approach of the coalition dispensation in shabbily treating them. He decried the approach of the BJP towards the people and totally neglecting them in all aspects. Similarly, the former minister said that all the promises made by the BJP to residents living along International Border and Line of Control during electioneering proved hoax. “What has happened to much trumpeted construction of bunkers, safe shelter sheds and allotment of 5-Marla plots to vulnerable segments of border population”, he asked and lamented that the PDP-BJP dispensation has failed in delivering on development and other fronts. While developmental inertia is discernible in all sectors, the utility services have suffered the most as a result of which the people were suffering on account of power and drinking water supply, poor road connectivity, scarcity of rations etc.
“The people, especially those living along borders have heavily paid for trusting the BJP which gave them nothing but miseries”, Slathia said, adding that the public anger will boomerang as the present Coalition Government has lost the track of governance. The lack of political direction has impacted the administration, which is almost invisible on ground zero, he maintained. The National Conferee Sr Vice President said that the public patience should not be taken for granted, which the present dispensation is doing. “They will have to deliver or perish”, he said and urged the people to remain cautious as the failed government may try to divide them on the basis of region, religion or caste to conceal their failures. He said unity and amity is the best answer to isolate divisive forces who have failed in governing the State.
Prominent among those present in the workers rally included all former Sarpanchs and Panchs of Vijaypur besides President NC Samba Mahinder Gupta, Vice President Vijay Singh, Block President Bhagwan Singh Parmandal, Block President Mohan Singh Pati Ramgarh, Block President Mohan Singh Jamwal, Vijaypur (New), Raman Gupta and Ex Chairman Municipal Committee, Sodagar Gupta.
