Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 20: On the occasion of International Refugee Day, Displaced Persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) today highlighted their grievances and demands.
S. O. S. International – an organization for PoJK Displaced Persons, observed “International Refugee Day” by holding a strong protest demonstration against Pakistan at its headquarters in Bakshi Nagar Jammu. Led by SOS International Chairman Rajiv Chuni, accompanied with Prof N N Sharma, V K Datta, Ved Raj Bali, Bhai Ram Singh, Jagjit Singh, Daleep Chib, Dharamvir Gupta, Satinder Dev Gupta, Kapoor Chand, Jagdish Bhatti, Gouri Shankar & others, the protesting Displaced Persons also torched flag of Pakistan, holding the neighbouring country mainly responsible for their displacement and consequent miseries.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajiv Chuni said that it was Pakistan that attacked J&K State on October 22, 1947 and massacred thousands of Hindu-Sikhs forcing the others to either convert to Islam or flee from the area leaving behind everything including their kith & kin dead or injured, movable and immovable properties. He lamented that since their migration, the displaced community was treated in most shabby way by the all the successive Governments including the present one. Click here to watch video
Rajiv Chuni alleged that despite their migration happened 75 years back, the community was still labeled as displaced persons, a status which doesn’t have any legal entity. “In the absence of Refugee status, we’re suffering badly because as a displaced person we can’t seek any help or aid from United Nations,” he added and reiterated the demands for implementation of their Rehabilitation Package passed by J&K Cabinet in 2014, quota for the kin of PoJK Displaced Persons in Professional colleges and Government jobs.
The SOS International chief said that non-representation of the PoJK DPs in Parliament as well as J&K Assembly was one of the main reasons behind callous attitude of the successive Governments towards the plights of the displaced community, which remained deprived of its political representation in the elected bodies. He demanded de-freezing of minimum eight PoJK Assembly seats so that the displaced community could get an opportunity to send their representatives in Assembly or Parliament.
Meanwhile, Jammu Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Committee (JKSAC) urged upon Lt Governor Manoj K Sinha to advice Principal Secy Revenue to initiate the process for issuance of notification to provide legal rights to DPs of 1947 from PoJK over the plot/lands under their dwellings in different regularized colonies across the Jammu region as announced by him at Bhour Camp, Jammu.
Addressing DPs in a meeting held at village Rohi Jammu, JKSAC President Gurdev Singh expressed his anguish over delay in the issuance of Notification as per the and regretted that despite passing of nine months period, nothing has been done in this context. He warned the Govt that mere sloganeering will not serve any purpose until and unless concreted and concrete steps are taken on ground to turn the given slogans in reality.
The other prominent DPs who spoke on the occasion, included Colonel M K Sharma, Dwarka Nath Khajuria, Tarlok Singh Tara, Meetu Kumari, Pooja Sharma, Pawan Sharma and Rajesh Khajuria.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
