Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 18: Terming the Rs 2,000 crore development package for displaced people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as great cry little wool, Congress workers and PoK refugees today held strong protest against this meager package at Karan Bagh Chowk in Gandhi Nagar constituency today.
The PoK refugees from various areas including Bhour Camp, Chatha, Simbal, Gadigarh and Badyal Brahmana participated in the protest and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and blocked RS Pura-Jammu road for some time against the package. The protest was organized by Sarpanch Bhour Camp and Congress Block president, Amrit Bali where former minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla joined the protest and also addressed the agitating refugees.
While speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said that BJP led NDA Government has betrayed the refugees of 1947, 1965 & 1971 from PoK and those from West Pakistan in the recent package announced by the Prime Minister. The refugees organizations have already voiced their concern and rejected this amount of Rs 5.50 lakh as final and one time settlement.
Reacting to package, he said that the package of one time settlement of refugees comprising financial assistance/ex-gratia relief of Rs 25 lakh per family amounting to over Rs 9000 crore alongwith several other concessions including reservation to their wards was recommended by the previous Congress-NC Govt to the Centre. The BJP which promised to ensure one time settlement of refugees from PoK and Chhamb besides promising citizenship to West Pakistan refugees before the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, has betrayed them after assuming power.
Bhalla pointed out that the package of ex-gratia recommended by the Congress-NC Govt for the DPs families was to the extent of over Rs 9000 crores but the present Modi Govt failed to grant the same. The categorization of PoK refugees based on the year in which they reached here, should be abolished and they should be treated as one group to end the confusion. Unemployed educated PoK refugee youth should be given interest-free loans to enable them to establish their businesses and quota in jobs.
Terming the package as a “cruel joke” with the displaced persons, Bhalla said the Union Government has undermined sanctity of the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC), which had recommended Rs 30 lakh for each refugee family of 1947 in its final report. He demanded that Autonomous PoK Refugee Development Board be constituted with financial powers.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
