Shadow Correspondent
jammu, Dec, 30:
While the people from Punjab, Himachal, Bihar and even foreign nationals from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Afghanistan had settled in prime locations in Jammu and its vicinity during the rule of successive regimes, the people of border villages of Jammu region continued to suffer for want of shelter at safer zones, said Harsh Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP and former Minister. Despite the tall sloganeering of various political parties during elections making lofty promises and assuring doles to the people of border belt, said Singh, none of the promises made by them had been redeemed after they assumed power. Having been cheated by the traditional political parties, the people of these areas were fast losing faith in the political system, he rued.
He said that people should genuinely differentiate between parties that stand solely for power and those sincerely fighting for the cause of the public. He was addressing public meetings in Bishnah town in Bishnah constituency today. Expressing concern over the deteriorating security scenario in valley and borders, Mr. Singh regretted that militancy had spreading its tentacles in hitherto peaceful areas of Jammu region. The Kishtwar attack on Parihar brothers, bus stand grenade attack and busting of Billawar hideout indicated that all was not well. He said that in the wake of Pak sponsored militants creating terror, attacking security personnel and stone pelters going berserk in the valley, Pakistan had been opening unprovoked fire and pounding Indian posts and forward hamlets all along the IB and LoC in Arnea, Samba, Kathua, R.S Pura, Akhnoor, Poonch and Rajouri sectors leading to panic and killings of several soldiers and civilians.
He said that highly controversial decision of unilateral ceasefire had provided an opportunity to the terrorists to regroup and plan further mayhem in the State. Anguished over the loss of property and life caused by the persistent heavy mortar shelling and firing by Pakistan on the forward villages of Jammu region, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that the life of the border dwellers had been thrown out of gear who were living in a terrifying atmosphere with women and children facing the worst miseries of life.
He regretted that severe lack of ambulance and emergency services besides defunct Primary Health Centers in the border villages had posed severe problems for the people with several casualties which otherwise could have been averted by timely intervention. He added that several livestock had perished during incessant firing and shelling besides heavy damage had been caused to the houses and crops of the local residents. Mr. Singh expressed his resentment against the BJP for shamelessly doling false promises and assurances to the border residents time and again for their relief and rehabilitation and making the mockery of their painful condition. He warned the Saffron party to fulfill its promise of 5 Marla of land to each family at safer zones, adequate bunkers for emergency situation, adequate ex-gratia each to the family of the person killed in Pak firing, compensation to the family of the injured, employment for the next of kin of the deceased, special recruitment drive for border youth, job benefits for the border dwellers at par with the ALC residents and adequate assessment based compensation to the people for the loss of their crops, cattle stock and damaged houses as relief measures.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Rajesh Padgotra, Rohit Sharma, Parshotam Parihar, Surinder Chauhan, Neeraj Gupta, Nirmal Kishore besides others.
