Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 9: While lauding the decision of Union Govt to extend the benefit of ex-gratia relief of Rs 5.5 lakh per family to the PoK refugees settled outside state, the state Congress has questioned why the assistance full package including financial assistance @Rs 25 lakh per family as recommended by the NC-Congress State Govt which was revised to Rs 30 lakh by Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has not been sanctioned, so far after six years of BJP rule at the Centre.
Welcoming the move of the Govt to include the left out families from POK refugees in the ex-gratia relief already sanctioned, JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma (Ex-MLC) questioned the betrayal of the BJP for failure to fulfil the commitment of providing full amount of Rs 30 lakh per family as recommended by the Joint Parliamentary Committee, although Congress-NC Govt had already recommended Rs 25 lakh per family.
The BJP repeatedly committed to sanction full package including ex-gratia @ Rs 30 lakh besides reservation to the wards of POK refugees in technical institutions on the pattern of West Pakistan refugees since 2008 in various institutions throughout country. The reservation in Central forces jobs was also part of the package recommended by the then State Government.
He lashed out the delay of more than six years in sanctioning the full package to POK and West Pakistan refuges as committed by BJP leadership in 2014 elections. Still a large number of POK refugees have not been disbursed the relief despite completion of all formalities for over a year. Thousands of families have been waiting for the earlier relief of Rs 5.5 lakh and delay in disbursement is deliberate on the part of authorities.
Even during recent Lok Sabha elections, BJP promised the POK refugees, the release of full amount of recommended package but today’s announcement has dismayed these people. He demanded immediate fulfilment of commitment by BJP and release of full amount to each refugee family of 1947, 1965 and 1971.
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