Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 20: JKPCC Working president, Raman Bhalla today expressed anguish at the decision of the Government to charge electricity tariff from the Kashmiri Pandits living in migrant camps. Bhalla visited KP migrants camp Jagti Nagrota and joined protesters when he came to know that they have been protesting for the last seven days.
Prominent among those present on the occasion include Hira Lal Pandita Chairman Migrant Cell, Shadi Lal Pandita, its convener, Chuni Lal Raina Kandi, general secretary, Virender Ganjoo general secretary, Ashok Dhar secretary.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla expressed his dismay over charging of power and water tariff from migrant relief holders and demanded that the order be immediately revoked. Reminding the Government that these displaced people have been living in these camps for the last 32 years and they are not in a position to build their own houses. They are totally dependent on relief of Rs 13000. Therefore charging of electricity bills would be a great burden on their limited income and would affect their day to day lives.
Bhalla appealed to the Government to reconsider this decision which has remained in force for ever since these people have been displaced. He urged that Government should not implement the order issued recently for charging of electricity tariff for migrants.
Bhalla said Congress Government during its tenure in J&K opened job opportunities for all those who had migrated from Kashmir and paved the safe return with all required secured initiatives. “I believe lot more is to be done and I promise you if Congress elected to power, all the measures will be taken in this regard,” he said.
Bhalla said Congress feels and understands the pain of migrant community since they have literally been uprooted by the conflict and forced to migrate from their birth place. He said providing jobs and financial assistance is not enough to win the trust of community, it is the duty of State to rehabilitate you back with honor and dignity.
Slamming the Centre, Bhalla said 70 Ministers of the Government carried out an outreach programme in Kashmir and asked if any of them visited a camp of Kashmiri Pandits.”What is this outreach when you cannot reach out to the Kashmiri Pandits living in the camps there,” he asked.”We demand report from the Modi Government on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, he added.
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