JK News Today
New Delhi, November 25:
“If J&K State has its existence, it is just because of sacrifices made by PoK DPs otherwise Pakistan would have occupied the whole State this was stated by Rajiv Chuni Chairman S. O. S. International – An Organization for PoK Displaced Persons while addressing the gathering during a function organized by the Delhi unit of SOS International in the commemoration of Mirpur Martyrs who laid down their lives during tribal invasion in the year 1947 for the existence of J&K State at Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi. Thousands of PoK DPs participated in the function to pay rich floral tributes and prayed for the departed souls.
Speaking further in the function, Rajiv Chuni said it has been more than 7 decades and this is the fourth generation of PoK DPs but no justice is provided to them. They are still running from pillar to post to get justice even after the lapse of such a long period. Since independence, most of the communities have been rehabilitated by successive Governments but the first ever victims of J&K problem who got the first ever bullet on their chests are still waiting for their rights but all the times, they are denied of their rights. Why is it so? Are we untouchables for the Government? Why are we treated in this brutal way? What is our fault?”, Chuni asked.
He further said that the State Cabinet in the year 2014 approved a package for PoK DPs in which Rs 25 lakh, reservation to wards of PoK DPs in professional and technical colleges across the nation, employment package to unemployed youths and many more were incorporated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in year 2015 announced a fund worth Rs 2,000 crore to 26, 319 PoK Displaced families of 1947 i.e. Rs 5.50 lakh instead of Rs 25 lakh as approved by State Cabinet for each family ruling out other components of the package. I would like to tell you that a total 31,619 PoK DP families were registered during mass exodus from their ancestral places in PoK and out of which, 5,300 families were registered in their respective places/camps outside J&K but these 5,300 folks were excluded from this package. Government doesn’t consider these ousted PoK DPs families as the victim of J&K State nor as the victims of partition. It is quite surprising those who are part & parcel of State are still waiting for the relief amount. The relief for non citizens of J&K State have been announced but 5, 300 PoK DPs families were kept out of the package”, he said.
S. O. S. International Chairman further added that proposals regarding inclusion of these families in the ambit of package were sent to Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and former Governor N N Vohra but no positive response has been received yet. “Now, S. O. S. International has asked for time from Governor Satya Pal Malik and Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam to apprise about their issues. He further said that New Delhi – the national capital is the hub where most powerful people like President, Prime Minister and others reside and the voice which is raised here gets attention of top brass so, the voice ought to be raised here so that this deaf Government can hear our problems. I urge the PoK DPs who reside in New Delhi to put the problems in the capital so that justice can be achieved early”, he stated.
He furthered said that PoK DPs are put in another mental traumatic scenario where Government is behaving like a monster where limitations of discrimination have gone beyond one’s imagination. This is the 4th generation of PoK DPs who is expecting some sigh of relief amount but Government’s out of logic decisions have put them in another state of gloom. He further said that if the process of providing justice continue in such a biased manner then, we will be left with no option but to launch unprecedented struggle”, he added.
“The PoK DPs who are 13 lakh in populace are given shelter at various places of country and they were kept in segment. PoK DPs are facing the apathy of Government because they don’t have political reservation. As you know that there are 24 frozen seats in J&K State Legislative Assembly and out of these, 1/3rd i.e. 8 seats must be restored so that PoK DPs can elect their representatives by making floating segments or through nomination so that they can raise their voice in the house as voices are recorded in the houses but no such provision has been made by any of the successive Governments’, he stated.
He further said that S. O. S. International soon will file the petition before Election Commission of India (ECI) for restoration of 8 seats in terms of reservation or nomination. He further said that if ECI does not take cognizance of our petition then S. O. S. International will knock the doors of Supreme Court. He further said that S. O. S. International is the only organization which has been keeping the spark alive about the problems of PoK DPs by conducting rallies and meetings; otherwise our causes would have been put in cold storage. “A long span of time has already been passed to have the justice but justice is not delivered to us. We are waiting for final verdict but it is being denied all the time by various successive Governments, and now current Government is also following the footsteps of its predecessors to prove the very old and popular saying – Justice delayed is just denied”, he added.
Chairman S. O. S. International warned the Government if whole package approved by State Cabinet for PoK DPs is not implemented in toto and a uniform policy is not formulated for all the displaced persons until December 16, 2018, then PoK DPs will sit on indefinite “dharna” on December 17, 2018. The indefinite dharna will be continued till the goal is achieved. He made a fervent appeal in the function that PoK DPs must stand united to get the justice by thwarting the evil designs of hostile forces and toughen hands of S. O. S. International for decisive battle.
Others who addressed the gathering includes V.K Datta, S.C Sawhney, Krishan Lal Mahajan and T.R Sethi.
