Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 23: Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA from Bishnah, Ashwani Sharma today highlighted the problems faced by the people including those living in the border areas and called upon the Government to immediately address them.
Addressing a largely attended public meeting at border town of Arnia, Mr Sharma said a number of people had to migrate during heavy shelling and firing by Pakistan from the border areas in the month of October. A number of them were injured but the Government hasn’t provided any relief to them. He demanded that the promise made by both Centre and State Governments to provide 5 marlas plot to the people of border areas should be fulfilled immediately.
“Apart from firing, a number of people have also been killed or injured in the mine blasts. The Government had also acquired land of the border people for fencing. Neither the mine blast victims nor the people, whose land was acquired for fencing, have been paid compensation so far. This is ridiculous and can’t be tolerated. The Government was compelling the people to launch agitation,” Mr Sharma said.
Charging the Government with conducting special recruitment drive for police in selected areas only, the MLA Bishnah said such drives should be conducted in the border areas so that the genuine and deserving people get benefited. He said the reservation benefits given to the people living on ALC should also be extended to those living along the International Border as problems of both the people were same.
Voicing deep concern over complete failure of Centre and State Governments to provide state subjects, compensation and other benefits to the refugees of PoK, West Pakistan, 1965 and 1971 war, Sharma warned a major agitation in support of the demands of refugees. He warned the Government not to take the refugees for granted.
Referring to the demands of Arnia town, he called upon the Government to immediately sanction a degree college for the town, convert PHC to CHC and solve other problems of Arnia town failing which the people would be forced to agitate.
The MLA Bishnah said listed a number of works in power, PHE, health, road connectivity, education and other sectors completed by him and undertaken further during past 11 years and assured that Bishnah segment would not lag behind development.
Follow our WhatsApp channel