Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 27: Eulogizing the supreme sacrifices made by jawans of Jammu region serving in Military and Para Military forces who lost their lives while fighting Pak sponsored terrorism, JKNPP chairman and former Minister Harshdev Singh has lambasted the Central Government for its failure to acknowledge their services for the cause of the nation.
In a press statement here, the NPP leader said that while the Central Govt awarded Ashok Chakra, Sena Medals and Shaurya Chakras on January 26 to several security men which was laudable but regretted the complete oblivion of the Jammu martyrs from its itinerary. He said that several warriors of the State particularly of Jammu region laid down their lives for the defense of nation and for guarding its frontiers including 6 martyrs of ‘six Dogra Regiment’ who were killed in Manipur attack last year, Naik Mool Raj of Jakh who was killed while fighting Pak militants in Pathankot, constable Santosh Singh and constable Azad Chand who were killed in 2013 Handwara militant attack besides others, but the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi failed to even mention their supreme sacrifices.
Strongly condemning the Central and State Govt for failure to recognize and honour the great sacrifices of valiant solders of Jammu region, Mr Singh called for posthumous awards to such martyrs with adequate ex-gratia to their families.
Reminding the BJP of all its jingoistic rhetoric with all its jangle and rattle created in the Assembly and outside over the killing of soldiers, Mr Singh reprimanded the BJP leaders for relegating the issues of their national heroes to back burner after coming to power. He said that Utter Pardesh had provided ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of martyrs killed in Manipur attack last year, Haryana Govt had paid ex-gratia of Rs 35 lacs to its native soldiers killed in Handwara attack in 2013, Karnataka Govt had paid Rs 30 lacs to its martyr killed in Pathankot attack and Himachal Govt had paid Rs 20 lacs each for its two native soldiers killed in Pathankot attack but the J&K State had failed to pay even a single penny despite BJP being at the helm of affairs.
Harshdev further condemned the State Govt for its neglect in payment of ex-gratia to the family of Chamel Singh who was killed in Kot Lakhpat Jail of Pakistan. He said that Sarbjit Singh who was also killed in similar circumstances in the same Jail was given the status of a martyr by Punjab Govt besides his family members having been given ex-gratia of Rs 1.25 crore in addition to two jobs in the family.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel