Excelsior Correspondent
Samba, Sept 1: Former minister and PCC general secretary Manjit Singh today said displaced persons from Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Chhamb are real stakeholders for any dialogue over J&K issue.
In a press statement, Manjit Singh expressed concern for ignoring PoK and Chhamb refugees and displaced persons when a delegation of Parliamentarians is visiting State.
The Congress leader said that BJP Government in Centre as well as in Jammu and Kashmir has turned blind eyes towards the PoK and Chhamb refugees/DPs of 1947, 1965 and 1971.
“They are not taken into account by the Government with regard to discussion on J&K issue. They are actual sufferers and stake holders as well but no one has taken them into confidence before holding discussion,” he said.
Mr Singh expressed surprise and said that these nationalist PoK and Chhamb refugees/DPs have not taken up arms instead gave their lives to save the country from Pakistani aggression many times.
“They lost their houses, live stock and even their family members yet they have remained loyal to the nation but the saffron party which always beats its chest on the name of nationalism has ignored these nationalist people,” he alleged.
Mr Singh alleged that the Congress Government had announced Rs 25 lakh per family as compensation to the PoK and Chhamb refugees / DPs, while Joint Parliamentary Panel recommended Rs 30 lakh.
Interestingly, the Modi Government reduced the amount to Rs 5 lakh per family which is completely insufficient and it shows how BJP is serious about the plight of the DPs, or PoK & Chamb refugees.