SRINAGAR: Senior National Conference leader and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Monday assailed the BJP for delivering just lip service to the displaced persons instead of paying any heed to the recommendations of the then State Government led by Omar Abdullah with regard to the provision of one-time settlement of Rs 25 lakhs per family to 31619 displaced families.
“The National Conference led government had made a conscious decision during a cabinet meeting in 2014 by recommending a package for the POJK displaced persons of 1947, 1965 and 1971 involving around Rs 9025 crore but the Centre outrightly rejected it and arbitrarily announced a meagre Rs 2,000 crore for payment of a far reduced rate of compensation at the rate of Rs 5.50 lakh per family, which to is not implemented in letter and spirit,” Sadhotra said while welcoming prominent political activists into the National Conference fold at a function held at Lower Muthi here.
The former minister criticized the BJP for false slogans besides rhetoric on every crucial issue and said that the way the displaced persons have been treated speaks volumes about its insensitivity towards their plight. They have suffered hugely over the decades and deserved a much better deal.
He urged the Union Government to revisit and review the one-time settlement for displaced persons of Pakistan by invoking the recommendations of the Omar Abdullah led government and taking earnest measures in enhancing the compensation.
Sadhotra asserted that the National Conference is committed to pleading the cause of Pakistan displaced persons and said their welfare is a priority for the party.
He sought the inclusion of 5,300 Pakistan administered Kashmir families also in the package who are living outside Jammu and Kashmir, as they have been kept outside the ambit of the package.
He also favoured the demand for the formation of the Jammu and Kashmir Board for the welfare of displaced persons.
Hundreds of BJP workers men and women joined National Conference, welcoming the new entrants who left BJP, Sadhotra hoped that this will further galvanise and rejuvenate the party at the grassroots level.
He said the National Conference alone can steer Jammu and Kashmir to peace, progress and prosperity.
This is the right forum for all those who want to serve the people, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or regional affiliations. Time stands testimony to how the National Conference remained in the forefront to meet the challenges and serve the people by satiating their urges and aspirations, he added.
Prominent among those who joined the party included are Bhagwan Dass Sharma, Ex Nain Sarpanch Pawan Sharma, Mahesh Sharma, Prabhu Dayal Sharma, Madan Lal Sharma, Neelam Sharma, Sudesh Kumari, Darshana, Sharda Kumari, Anu Devi.
Others who spoke on the occasion are Ghar Singh Corporator, Raghuvir Singh Manhas District President, Randhir Singh Jamwal District Secretary, Rakesh Sharma, Darshana Devi Bhagat, and Randhir Singh Chib.
