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| PoK, West Pak refugees sour over NaMo's nonchalance | | | THE SUPPLICATION || We will ask Modi that if the Centre is afraid of Kashmir-centric leadership then please settle us in any part of a big nation like India, says Gandhi
Kunal Shrivatsa
Jammu, June 13: The refugees, who fled from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) after the 1947 tribal invasion orchestrated by Pakistan army and those who came from West Pakistan as a result of Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, had pinned high hopes on Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after it took over the reigns on May 26.
The expectations of lakhs of refugees of all categories residing in different parts of the state has swelled manifold since the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) had promised in its poll manifesto that the issues related to refugees will be resolved if voted to power.
However, the refugees are feeling a bit disappointed on the manner in which they were left out in the Presidential address to the joint session of the Parliament on June 9.
And, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi while replying to a debate on President's address on June 11 too didn't prefer to speak out on the proposal of rehabilitating refugees putting up in J&K, which was like sprinkling salt to the wounds of 'miserable' refugees.
"The President's address to the joint session of the Parliament wherein he spelled out Modi Government's roadmap didn't make any mention of the PoK refugees or West Pak refugees which is quite disheartening…The refugees didn't get a place in the agenda of the new Government which shows only a Government has changed at the centre, the policies haven't," said Rajiv Chunni, Chairman of the SOS, an organization of PoK refugees settled in J&K.
Though the new Government failed to bring up the refugees' issue in its agenda of governance, Rajiv Chunni still expressed optimism that the BJP led regime would address the issue in a time bound manner.
"We hope that the BJP led NDA Government will extend justice to the PoK refugees and the issue does not remain in the backseat as a mere poll promise like the previous Governments did in the past… Isn't it ironical that the PoK refugees are not even regarded as refugees but displaced persons as they belong to those areas of PoK which the Government considers as integral part of India…We are the worst sufferers," he said.
If PoK refugees are fuming over their neglect by the BJP led Government in the beginning of its innings, the West Pakistan refugees, who have been languishing for decades in the state without citizenship rights or consideration from the State Government, are also annoyed with the union Government for its act.
"We are unfortunate that nobody thinks of us…. The issue of West Pakistan refugees is one of the major concerns which can't be ignored… We have been deprived voting rights and the other basic infrastructure for the last six decades…. Humanity keeps on suffering but no nobody bothers," lamented Labba Ram Gandhi, Chairman of West Pakistan Refugees Action Committee.
Gandhi further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured us to resolve the issues pertaining to refugees within 90 days of coming to power and the refugees are hopeful that Modi will keep his words.
"We are soon going to meet Prime Minister Modi to make him aware of the plight of lakhs of refugees…. We will ask Modi that if the centre is afraid of Kashmir-centric leadership then please settle us in any part of a big nation like India," said Gandhi. |
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