Martyrs’ families deserve ex-gratia as right: Harsh

By
Daily Excelsior
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Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 6:  Expressing dismay over the BJP-PDP Govt’s denial of ex-gratia to the families of martyrs, chairman of National Panthers Party  Harsh Dev Singh has lambasted the incumbent Govt for showing disrespect to the brave hearts who laid down their lives for the flag and honour of the nation.
Mr Singh regretted that while all other States of the country had announced ex-gratia to the next of kin of martyrs, the BJP led Govt  was the only exception to the general rule. He pointed out that while the Samajwadi Party Govt in Uttar Pradesh had announced ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh  for Uri Martyrs, JDU-RJD Govt in Bihar had announced Rs11 lakh for Uri martyrs; Congress Govt in Haryana had paid Rs 35 lakh to Handwara martyrs in 2013; Congress Govt in HP paid Rs 20 lakh to Pathankot martyrs, SP Govt in UP Rs 20 lakh to Manipur Martyrs of 2015, the BJP Ministers of the State contrarily had shamelessly stated that the J&K Govt did not have any policy to give ex-gratia to martyrs families.
Flaying the BJP for its contemptuous utterances that it was raising money from its party sources for payment of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of martyrs, Mr Singh said that the NOKs of martyrs deserved ex-gratia on merits and as a matter of right and not as charity. He said that the families of martyrs were seeking acknowledgment of their acts of valour and sacrifice for their motherland by the State and Central Govts.
Rebuking the BJP Govt for dishonouring martyrs, Mr  Singh said that the BJP was answerable to the nation for depriving the families of martyrs in the matter of ex-gratia, while paying honorarium and rehabilitation funds to surrendered militants, incurring security expenditure worth hundreds of crores on separatists and anti nationals, compensation to families of deceased stone pelters of Kashmir besides doubling of salaries of Ministers and MLAs all from State exchequer.
He said if the Govt could frame a policy for monthly honorarium to surrendered militants, then what prevented it from formulating a policy for ex-gratia to martyrs and national heroes.

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