Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 8: Continuing their protest against providing ration on the pattern of National Food Security Act (NFSA) and denial of ration on Maha Shivratri festival, the migrants of various camps held a demonstration and demanded that they be given ration as per old scale.
The migrants of Muthi and Buta Nagar camps held demonstrations in their respective camps and later marched to Relief Commissioner’s Office where the effigies of the Government were burnt.
The protestors demanded that the migrants be provided ration as per old scale till their proper rehabilitation in their homeland in Kashmir where from they have been forced to flee.
The protests were also held at Purkhoo, Jagti and Nagrota migrant camps against the Government policy and the protestors termed that it was a deliberate move to deprive the migrants of monthly ration as five kgs can’t suffice a person to make his body and soul together.
SP Party Migrant Cell president Inder Ji Labroo while addressing protestors at Jagti urged the Government to revoke the decision failing which the migrants will be left with no alternative but come to streets.
Meanwhile various migrant bodies have also criticized the Government decision and warned to hold a protest demonstration at Raj Bhawan tomorrow in protest against the Government decision.
The BJP Kashmir Displaced District which met here today under the leadership of its president T N Bhat decided to hold a demonstration at Raj Bawan tomorrow. The meeting criticized the Government for not providing ration on Maha Shivratri. It warned that if necessary orders for supply of ration as per the old scale were not issued the displaced people will launch agitation.
The meeting was attended by Sunil Bhat, V K Raina, Bansi Bhat, Vimal Raina, A K Pandita, Ashok Bhat , J L Pandita and P L Dhar.
Meanwhile various organizations in Jagti including JCC, representative Sanjay Raina, Jagti Welfare Committee, representative, Vijay Kaul Relief holders and All Migrants Camp Coordination Committee, (AMCCC) president
Desh Rattan and Samajwadi party migrant Cell president, Inderji Labroo have decided to intensify agitation from tomorrow by holding a dharna in front of Raj Bhawan in support of their demands.
They accused the Government of unnecessarily adding to the miseries of displaced people from Valley. It is a matter of shame for the government that in last 27 years it failed to restore our homeland to us and instead of solving our problems it was adding to our miseries further said they said.
Desh Rattan said that his organization also called on Revenue and Relief Secretary Afzal Bhat and discussed the issue with him. “We demanded that the NFSA should not be applied to migrants till their honorable rehabilitation in their homeland”. He said a detailed memorandum has also been faxed to Union home Minister, Raj Nath Singh by his organization apprising him of the situation created after the decision of Government to deprive migrants of free ration supply.
Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC) which also met today under the president ship of Shadi Lal Pandita has lambasted the Government for depriving the migrants of ration on holy festival. He said the migrants are given relief under security head and hence NFSA can’t be imposed on them as they are neither APL nor BPL.
It is the duty of Government to provide the free ration and relief to them till their rehabilitation in Valle, said Pandita.