*Killed in Pak, Chamel’s family maSanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 23: In a major step forward towards addressing the issues faced by Kashmiri Pandit migrants and West Pakistani refugees, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today declared that the Central Government was heading towards resolution of their issues and was firmly committed to rehabilitate the migrants in the Kashmir valley and work out comprehensive settlement, which would be acceptable to West Pakistani refugees.
Rajnath also held high level review of security situation prevailing along the borders with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and other States with Members of Parliament (MPs) of border areas and top officials of the MHA among others and discussed steps required to maintain peace on the borders and solve problems faced by the people living close to the borders.
The Union Home Ministry, for the first time, also took up the issue of Chamel Singh, a youth from Pargwal, Akhnoor, who was killed in a Pakistani jail by the Prison staff and others, few days after the killing of Punjab’s Daljeet Singh. Chamel Singh’s family was denied any kind of help either by the Centre or by the State Government while Punjab Government had given jobs to both kin of Daljeet and huge compensation. The MHA was working on compensation for the kin of Chamel Singh.
Reliable sources told the Excelsior that Rajnath chaired two high level security review meetings at his residence-one on Jammu and Kashmir and second one exclusively on the borders with Pakistan-which among others were attended by Minister of State in PMO, Incharge North Eastern States, Youth Services and Sports, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Special Secretary (Internal Security), Mahesh Kumar Singla, Joint Secretary, Incharge Jammu and Kashmir Ganesh Kumar and other top officials connected with security and Border Management.
According to sources, Rajnath Singh was reported to have expressed his commitment to setting up of Kashmiri Pandit colonies in the Kashmir valley, which would be fully secured for their safe, honourable and dignified return to the Valley after more than two and half decades when they were forced to desert their homes by the militants and take shelter in Jammu, New Delhi and other parts of the country.
“There is no compromise on safe and secure return of the Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley. The Centre with help of the State Government is committed to set up colonies for the Kashmiri Pandits,” he was reported to have said.
The fresh stand by the Union Home Minister on Kashmiri Pandit colonies assumed significance as it comes in the wake of opposition to separate Pandit colonies by the separatists and some other organizations.
In the meeting, that lasted nearly two hours, Rajnath reportedly made it clear that the Government was working in the direction of setting up of Kashmiri Pandit colonies in the Valley and there is no reversal of the decision. He said that the Centre was also in touch with the State Government and Kashmiri Pandit organizations.
According to sources, the issue of West Pakistani refugees was also taken up by the Union Home Minister as the BJP, while in Opposition, had strongly pleaded their cause, both at Centre and State level.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already approved Rs 2000 crores worth package for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) refugees, which was part of Rs 80,000 crores worth package, the West Pakistani refugees haven’t been given any relief so far.
Sources said, excepting Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs), the MHA has announced that it was ready to go to any extent to address the issues of West Pakistani refugees. “The package for the West Pakistani refugees will be worked out very shortly after taking their representatives into confidence,” they added.
Rajnath Singh is reported to have issued directions for working out comprehensive package for West Pakistani refugees after taking their representatives and other stake holders into the confidence so that the package is worked out to their satisfaction.
In the meeting, Dr Jitendra Singh also strongly pleaded the cause of Kashmiri Pandits and West Pakistani refugees and suggested measures to address their issues to the satisfaction of them. He also gave up suggestions on solving their problems.
Sources said Rajnath chair another meeting in which MPs from border constituencies of States like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat, which shared boundary with Pakistan, were also called.
The Home Minister reviewed situation prevailing on the borders and stressed the need for maintaining strict vigil on the borders with Pakistan to thwart any kind of intrusions by the militants following reports that the militants were plotting terror attacks in the country.
He called for strict guard on the borders and also took view point from the MPs representing border constituencies.
The internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir also came up for high level review at the meeting and Rajnath Singh called for sharing all available Intelligence inputs with the State Government on maintenance of law and order in the State by checking infiltration, militancy in the hinterland and other disturbing incidents.
This was second high level security review of Jammu and Kashmir by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Last week, he had reviewed situation prevailing on J&K borders, increased activities of militants including the killing of BSF and police personnel and two sacrilegious acts in Jammu.y get relief
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