JKNT
Jammu, Sep 21
Lashing out at the PDP-BJP coalition Government, Team Jammu today alleged that the government has ‘’disrespected’’ the martyred soldiers and demanded immediate compensation of special package for the Next of Kin of martyrs.
“It is unfortunate that many states has come forward and extended helping hand to the soldiers from Bihar, UP, Maharashtra and Jharkhand martyred in Uri attack but unfortunately, Jammu and Kashmir Government has yet to wake from its deep slumber and yet utter a word regarding relief for two soldiers from Jammu, who among were those attained martyrdom in Uri,” Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Chairman, Team Jammu, in a special and urgently convened meeting of the Members and Volunteers, called here this afternoon.
Zorawar Singh Jamwal said that just only making lip sympathies and condemning the incidents will not solve the matter, adding, “it is not a matter of money but respect and responsibility on behalf of the state government, which as a protocol has to be shown to them.”
Governments of the Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Bihar announced ex-gratia for 15 soldiers from Bihar attained martyrdom but even after four days of attack, yet nothing official has been announced by the government or by any of the ministers.
The ministers including of BJP, which is in coalition with ruling PDP, ensured presence at the cremation grounds but made no reference regarding ex-gratia to the Next of Kins (NOKs) of martyred soldiers. Besides, those political parties sitting at opposition benches too seems to be mute spectators by not taking up such a sensitive issue which involves respect to the family of martys.
Havaldar Ravi Paul of village Sarba in district Samba and Subedar Karnail Singh of village Shibu Chack, Bishnah, Jammu, attained martyrdom.
“PDP-BJP government doubled the salaries of its Council of Ministers as well as legislators, but did nothing substantial in this regard except expressing the lip sympathy and condemnation of the terror attack,” the Chairman asserted.
He said that Jammu is a land of Temples, Sufi Saints and Dogra warriors , who had a history of sacrificing lives for the country, adding, “I feel surprised and shocked that the party like BJP, who used to make big promises and announcements at the time of Assembly elections, did not bothered to take up the case of compensation to the martyred soldiers.”
Jamwal however, rued that Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, instead of cancelling all his important function should have attended the funeral of the soldiers but it is astonishing that he was attending Naropa Festival in Ladakh.
“Sea of humanity from all walks, thronged to pay tributes/homage to the soldiers, who were cremated with full military honours at Bishnah and Ramgarh but only two of the ministers attended the ceremony with no announcement of relief,” he added.
The government should immediately announce at least Rs 25 lakh to NOKs of each soldier, he demanded.
“Stone pelters and those instigating violence in the Kashmir Valley, are being given due consideration,” he said adding that it is shameful and condemnable that those who rendered services for the state and the nation, are not given due attention.
