Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Accusing BJP-led Government at the Centre for its utter failure to deal with situation in Kashmir and restoring peace on borders, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that Modi Government has no policy on Kashmir and dealing with Pakistan.
Talking to media-persons during his visit to border belt of RS Pura and Arnia to take stock of situation in view of Pakistani firing, Azad, who was accompanied by AICC general secretary Ambika Soni said that there seems to be no policy of Modi Government at the Centre with regard to Kashmir and Pakistan. “It is unfortunate that this Government has totally failed to deal with the border situation and also tackle situation in Kashmir. The situation has further worsened in the Valley”, he added.
Click here to watch video
Azad said during last four years, there was no change on the border situation. “The ceasefire violations and killings of the civilians, BSF and Army men has been on the rise. Many people have been suffering injuries, their cattle have been killed and houses badly damaged. Massive migration has taken place during these chilling cold days and people are facing lot of hardships in temporary camps/ Government buildings. The studies of the children has also been badly hit.”
Expressing grave concern over the repeated incidents of border firing and escalated tension with Pakistan, the AICC leader said it is war like situation and Government must take appropriate steps. He said construction of bunkers and providing safer location to the border people was must to minimize the casualties on border.
Condemning Pakistan for resorting to cease fire violation and targeting the civilian population, Azad said that there was comparatively calm on the border and LoC with Pakistan during UPA regime and there were few such incidents of cross border firings but during the NDA regime it has become a routine situation and the border residents and jawans are becoming regular targets and getting martyred. “The border residents are getting disturbed time and again from their homes depriving them of properties.”
Training guns at BJP leadership, Azad said BJP used to raise lot of hue and cry over such rare incidents and would describe the UPA Government as weak when it was in opposition, but now when situation on the border has worsened a lot as also in Kashmir, they are mum. He questioned the Modi Government of its strong policy and said there does not appear to be any policy of BJP Government towards Pakistan and on Kashmir.
Earlier, talking to border migrants Azad said Congress would seek discussion in the Parliament over the border situation at the earliest. Advocating the demands of border residents like plots in safer zones, special recruitment, reservation for them and better schooling, health and medical facilities and provision of fodder and enhanced compensation for the human loss and livestock, Azad and AICC general secretary Ambika Soni (Incharge J&K Affairs) said that party would forcefully raise these issues both inside the Parliament and State Legislature besides launching a campaign in the State for the justified demands of border residents.
Ambika Soni assured the border people that they would apprise the party high command about the whole situation on their return to Delhi and extend all possible help to seek redressal of the genuine concerns and demands of border residents.
Earlier, after arriving here from Union capital Azad and Ambika Soni along with PCC chief GA Mir and other senior leaders today visited various areas along the Indo-Pak border to meet the victim of Pak shelling and border residents and took stock of the prevailing border situation.
From Airport, they straight way went to border areas of RS Pura, Chakroi, Sai-Khurd, Arnia, Bishnah and later in Jhiri- Kanachak area to meet the border migrants and the victims of border firing. They shared the grief and sorrow of the families of those martyred in the recent firing and the families of the injured. They also conveyed sympathies to them on behalf of top Congress leadership.
They took stock of the prevailing situation as a result of heavy shelling from Pakistan leading to human loss and injuries to large number of persons besides large scale damage to the property and causalties of live stock, forcing large number of border residents to migrate to safer areas.
Tribal Gujjars at Chakroi Camp briefed them that over 150 buffaloes have been killed and several other injured besides burning down of their kacha houses and fodder in Joura Farm area. The local representatives at different camps apprised the visiting leaders about their demands especially 5 Marla plots in safer zones, individual bunkers reservation like RBA and special recruitment in paramilitary and State Police besides provision for schooling of border children in boarding schools, enhancement of ex-gratia relief and compensation for the human loss and livestock.
Several senior party leaders and legislators who accompanied them, included- Sham Lal Sharma, Rigzin Jora (CLP Leader), Tara Chand, Raman Bhalla, Mula Ram, Madan Lal Sharma, Ravinder Sharma, Rajnish Sharma, Dr Manohar Lal, Balwan Singh, Shabir Khan, Manjit Singh, Suman Bhagat, SS Channi, Farooq Indrabi, Namrata Sharma, Indu Pawar, Ashok Sharma, MK Bhardwaj, Pawan Raina, Shashi Sharma, Sobha Singh, Gurdarshan Singh, Gajjan Singh, Pranav Shagotra, Gurbachan Rana and Prof Gharu Ram.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
