Excelsior Correspondent
PARGWAL, Feb 2: A strong protest dharna was organized by the Congress activists and border people at tehsil headquarter Pargwal in Khour Sub Division to highlight the grievances of the border residents here today.
Former Dy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Tara Chand was leading the protest. Besides Congress activists, a large number of border people joined the protest dharna. They sat on protest dharna outside the Tehsil headquarters which culminated with the submission of a copy of the memorandum to the Governor in support of the demands of the border dwellers through Tehsildar Pargwal.
While addressing large gathering, former DyCM came down heavily on Coalition Govt for its failure to address the grievances of the border people and protect the life and property of the people. He demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh in favour of the families of those who have lost their members in the border firing. He further demanded Rs 1 lakh for each who got injured in the shelling and free treatment.
Tara Chand asked the Govt to provide plots for the border residents at safer places and financial assistance for the construction of the house. He said that the Central and State Governments should conduct special recruitment drives for the youth of the border areas so that they can get employment opportunities. He reiterated his demand of declaring RBA status within the five kilometers along Indo-Pak border.
The Congress leader slammed the coalition for delaying and shifting the construction of a bridge over river Chenab in Pargwal. He said that the previous regime had sanctioned a bridge over river Chenab in Pargwal which would link the area with Khour and the foundation stone for the same was laid down around four years ago during his tenure as Deputy Chief Minister. But the project has been lying beneath the carpet. He said that this Govt is shifting the same bridge to Malabela-Narsinghpura which is in the range of fire from across the border. He demanded the same should be constructed at the place where the foundation stone was laid down earlier.
Ex-MLA Balwan Singh, Narender Sharma, Hari Singh Chib, Suram Singh and Ram Swaroop Sharma and Daljit Singh also spoke on the occasion.