*Pay ex-gratia of Rs 30 lakh to family of Shiv Raj: Harsh
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: Alleging double standards by the BJP Government in payment of ex-gratia to the victims of terror, the activists of JKNPP led by Harsh Dev Singh, chairman-JKNPP and former minister held a massive demonstration at Jammu.
The protestors raising slogans against BJP Government sought adequate compensation to the family of deceased Shiv Raj who was brutally killed in Dudu-Basantgarh area in June last.
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Hailing the payment of Rs 30 lakhs as ex-gratia to the family of slain BJP activist Wasim Bari by the Government, Harsh Dev Singh questioned the highly differential and discriminatory treatment doled out to the NOKs of Shiv Raj killed in Seoj Dhar area of Dudu-Basantgarh. He said that Dudu-Basantgarh had witnessed massive terror killing in the past with Seoj Dhar having remained the epicenter of all militant activity in the area.
“The area was frequently visited by unknown nomads from outside reported to be associated with militant outfits. And it was on June 2 that Shiv Raj a local shepherd of the area was brutally murdered by these nomads, his body mutilated and thrown into Ujh river. The brutal massacre of the poor shepherd sparked massive outrage in the entire Dudu-Basantgarh belt with people taking to roads and seeking a high level probe together with due ex-gratia to the family of the deceased. It was, however, regrettable that neither the dead body has been recovered nor any compensation released to the NOKs of the poor shepherd pushing his family to starvation,” he added.
While release of compensation in favour of NOKs of BJP leader Wasim Bari was a welcome step, the denial of identical treatment to Shiv Raj’s family only indicated the double standards of BJP Government. The BJP has once again proved its pro- Rich credentials and its contempt for the poor and downtrodden, asserted Singh.
Seeking a fair deal for the NOKs of Shiv Raj, Singh sought payment of Rs 30 lakhs to his family as well on the analogy of Wasim Bari of Kashmir besides provision of adequate security in the area in view of increased crime rate and terror related activities.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Yash Paul Kundal, Rajesh Padgotra, Gagan Pratap Singh, Surinder Chouhan and Kewal Krishan Sharma.
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