Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 22: Demanding political reservation for the PoJK refugees, the Association of Welfare of JKPoJK Refugees has sought induction of their leader Som Raj Dutta in the J&K Assembly.
Talking to mediapersons here today, Satinder Paul Singh Sethi, a refugee leader urged upon the present Government led by Omar Abdullah to address the issues of the JKPoJK refugees. He said the refugees have voted for NC candidate Mian Altaf Ahmed during Lok Sabha elections and now Surinder Choudhary in Nowshera constituency, making them winners.
He pointed out that during partition in 1947 over 42000 families migrated to this side and settled in Rajouri, Nowshera, Jammu, Akhnoor, Samba, Hiranagar, Udhampur and Kathua. They have now more than 6.5 lakh voters. Ironically no members from these refugees was ever nominated as MLC except master Roshan Lal Gupta, editor Daily Such Newspaper in 1981 during Sheikh Abdullah’s Government. No member was ever elected as MP or inducted in Rajya Sabha.
The PoJK refugees have high hopes from the Omar Abdullah led Coalition Government. Sethi demanded that refugees be provided political reservation and a well deserving member from among the PoJK refugees, Som Raj Dutta be inducted as MLA in the J&K Assembly or Member Parliament in Rajya Sabha in order to give representation to the PoJK refugees.
The Association also demanded adequate allotment of land to the PoJK refugees as it was not allotted as per the Government order (12 acres of land). They said the issues already stand discussed with the National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah during meeting at his Bathindi residence recently.
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