Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: Former minister and senior National Conference leader Ajay Sadhotra today alleged that the border dwellers have been totally ignored by the BJP Government at the Centre and `BJP-PDP’ combine in the State and alienation is growing in their minds and hearts.
Addressing a public meeting at Deore in Marh constituency today Sadhotra strongly condemned frequent border ceasefire violations by Pakistan and asked the Centre and State Governments to wake up from deep slumber and solve the most sensitive problems of the border IB and LoC dwellers.
National Conference leader said that Centre and State governments have miserably failed to fulfill their promise of providing five marlas of plot at safer places to each family on the IB and LoC and soft Bank loan for construction of houses. Former Minister asked the Government to allot five marlas of plot and soft loan to the border dwellers immediately.
Sadhotra further said the long pending promise of Centre and State Government to construct community bunkers and individual bunkers have also become a day dream as government has totally failed to solve this sensitive issue of the border dwellers.
Nominal ex-gratia is being given to the victims of Pak shelling that too in installments. The next of kin of the victims are being given only one lakh and for rest four lakhs, the victims have to wait for long time. There is option either to get ex-gratia or government employment to the victim family. NC leader has emphasized the need of increasing ex-gratia from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh per victim to the next of kin and also a Government job. The border dwellers are very brave people. They need to be properly looked after and encouraged. Since last 70 years, they are facing border problems. Sadhotra appreciated the period of Atal Bihari Vajpayee the then Prime Minister when guns were silenced from both sides on the border and people have a sigh of relief.
Sadhotra dema-nded adequate relief to the injured and also full cost of livestock as relief be given as livestock is the source of income of the border dwellers and cost of livestock has gone very high. Former minister also demanded that the Government should prepare/construct the damaged houses due to shelling. He also demanded special recruitment drive for border youth in Police, Army, BSF, CRPF etc.
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