Excelsior Correspondent
NOWSHERA, May 19: The SOS International, an organization of PoJK displaced persons, today came down heavily on the BJP for maintaining a ‘criminal silence’ on the legitimate issues concerning PoJK refugees, saying the party will no longer succeed in deceiving community members.
In a fervent appeal, the SOS International urged all PoJK displaced persons in Rajouri and Poonch districts not to become proxies for any particular political party. It made it clear that the lakhs of community members would be a decisive factor in all upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing an awareness rally in Nowshera town ahead of Lok Sabha poll on Anantnag-Rajouri seat, Rajiv Chuni, chairman of the SOS International, expressed serious concerns over the continued neglect of the PoJK displaced persons by the political parties, particularly the ruling BJP at the Centre, saying “it (BJP) failed to keep its promises made with the community.”
“No political party is worried about PoJK displaced persons. While the concerns of every section or community are being addressed, nobody is ready to speak on the legitimate issues of PoJK refugees,” Chuni said, adding “Our biggest grievance is with the BJP, which had always enjoyed the wholehearted support of PoJK people in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
“The list of broken promises was long and painful. Our land rights were snatched away, a promised relief package for PoJK displaced persons was abruptly stopped, and the commitment to provide employment to educated youth from the community went unheeded. Additionally, the promised Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for Paharis was granted selectively and purely on political considerations, benefiting only those living in Rajouri and Poonch while excluding their relatives and loved ones in other parts of Jammu and the country,” he added.
Chuni pointed out there was nowhere in the Act that only people living in Rajouri and Poonch would be granted ST status. He took a dig at the BJP for seeking votes in favour of a newly-floated Kashmir political party.
He urged the PoJK DPs to stand united against politicians who have shown discriminatory and indifferent attitudes.
Senior members V K Datta, Ved Raj Bali, Jagjit Singh, Daleep Chib, SD Gupta, Dr. Daleep Choudhary, Gurdip Bhardwaj also spoke on the occasion.
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