Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 16: Senior leader of National Conference and former Minister Ajay Sadhotra today said that the PoK Refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 were feeling deprived of their genuine claim of Rs 25 lakh per family as was recommended by the State Government headed by then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Sadhotra was addressing a meeting of youth workers of National Conference at Deri Mode in Block Marh where a number of BJP workers joined the NC.
Sadhotra alleged that BJP Government in the State and Centre was anti PoK Refugees. “Then Omar Abdullah Government had recommended about Rs 9000 crore for about 36,000 families of PoK Refugees to the Central Government for release of funds at the earliest,” he said and added that the said amount could be disbursed among PoK Refugee families as one time settlement.
“The BJP during 2014 Assembly elections misguided the PoK Refugees as usual and said they will give Rs 30 lakh per family. It is unfortunate that the promise of BJP again proved to be Jumla and they released only Rs 2000 crores for PoK Refugees which is a cruel joke with the people who are suffering and struggling since 1947,” said the National Conference leader.
Sadhotra demanded that the Central Government should release Rs 9000 crore as recommended by then State Government so that the sufferers could be given Rs 25 lakh per family instead of Rs 2000 crores.
He said only NC under the leadership of Omar Abdullah can fight for the cause of PoK Refugees. He cautioned the Refugees to beware of false promises of BJP and said even West Pakistan Refugees are being duped.
Others who spoke on the occasion, included Swaran Singh, Pt Jagdish Raj, Master Prem Saini, Subedar Ghasita Ram, Subedar Narayan Dass, Charandass, Deewan Singh, Keemat Lal, Raman Singh, Randhir Singh, Ankush Kesar, Kannu, Rakesh Sharma and Anchal Singh.
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