JAMMU: S.O.S. International – An Organization for PoK Displaced Persons – observed Black Day with participants from Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Poonch, and Gilgit districts paying homage to martyrs who made supreme sacrifices defending Jammu & Kashmir against Pakistani Army and tribal invaders aiming for demographic change. The event, led by Chairman Rajiv Chuni, featured speeches by VK Datta, Ved Raj Bali, Bhai Ram Singh, Amarjeet Singh, Jagjit Singh, Daleep Singh Chib, Dharam Vir Gupta, and others.
Proceedings began with floral tributes to genocide victims, two minutes of silence for those who saved the state, and a Sarva Dharma Prarthana. On October 22, 1947, the first bullet struck a PoK DP, halting invaders; 70,000 unarmed civilians were butchered, women abducted and raped in horrific atrocities – marking this as Jammu & Kashmir’s darkest day.
Addressing the gathering, Chuni declared: “We take pride as saviors of Jammu & Kashmir from Pakistani clutches, yet our progeny languish in unhygienic camps for eight decades without aid – the third generation suffers in history’s worst neglect.”
He detailed S.O.S. International’s efforts securing a relief package under the Omar Abdullah government: Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia per 1947 family, professional college reservations, and 8,500 jobs for educated PoK DP youth. Shockingly, the Centre ignored the last two components. Of Rs 9,096 crore recommended, only Rs 2,000 crore was sanctioned in 2016; just Rs 1200 crore distributed, Rs 600 crore pending. Chuni called this “slow poisoning” of DPs.
Mocking India’s PoK claims, he said: “Officials repeatedly declare PoK integral to India yet fail to stop CPEC railways and roads on our ancestral lands. China-Pakistan built dams earlier too. If PoK is ours, ban their constructions.” Retrieving Gilgit-Baltistan, he added, would secure half the nation; blocking CPEC would avenge 1947.
Chuni accused the Centre of shabby treatment: “PoK DPs are bona fide J&K citizens; Articles 370-35A never harmed us. We backed their abrogation for equal rights like Valley migrants – instead, discrimination doubled.” In ‘Back to Village Programs’ several central schemes reached Valley migrants’ doorsteps; zero for PoK DP camps. LG and secretaries visited Valley camps – none came to ours.
He demanded full package implementation, satellite towns like Valley migrants, and reversal of land grabs by the tillers despite High Court orders. Chuni urged eight reserved assembly seats in J&K, a PoK DPs Development Board, and Poonch-Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Gilgit scouts for LoC/LAC duty and youth jobs.
Jagjit Singh stressed upgrading PoK DP education to harness their intelligence for nation and society, honoring their patriotism. Dharam Vir Gupta called for smart ID cards, cultural clubs to preserve fading heritage, and leveraging the community’s valor to strengthen India.
