- Thousands gather at âRosh Rallyâ; 'double-engine BJP govt scripts black chapter of destruction of PoJK community': Chuni
JAMMU: SOS International--a registered body of displaced PoJK persons--today asked the BJP-led Central government to see the writing of the wall and not to test the patience of displaced people while maintaining a complete neglect of the community during the last 10 years. The organization said the double engine government of the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir has written a dark chapter of destruction of PoJK people, triggering strong resentment among them as they are left with no options to start a mass agitation to get their legitimate rights.
On the call of the SOS International, thousands of PoJK people gathered at the âRosh Rallyâ here on Sunday. The rally was held to draw immediate attention of the government towards the longstanding and overlooked issues of the refugee community. The participants raised slogans like âDouble Engine BJP Sarkar, Murdabad-Murdabadâ, âDouble Engine BJP Sarkar, Hosh me Aao-Hosh me Aaoâ and âDouble Engine BJP Sarkar, Insaaf karo-Insaaf Karoâ during the Rosh Rally. The speakers, in their address, warned the ruling BJP of having serious consequences in the upcoming Assembly polls if it fails to fulfill four legitimate and genuine demands of the PoJK community.
Addressing the large gathering, Rajiv Chuni, Chairman of SOS International, while delivering a powerful speech at the event, highlighted the persistent neglect faced by PoJK refugees over the last decade under the BJP-led central government. "Since the double-engine government took over the reins in Jammu and Kashmir, it has written a black chapter of destruction of our people. Whatever we had achieved through decades-long struggle, it has been destroyed under a systematic plan. Our representatives, who have been elected for Lok Sabha for three consecutive times, remained silent on all issues confronting the community.
This is quite shameful, " Mr Chuni said. He added, "We are also equally responsible for this continued neglect of the community as we, PoJK community, never exercised our voting rights wisely. We got swayed by emotions and false promises of political parties which have failed to come up to the expectations of our people ". The senior refugee leader expressed disappointment over the lack of commitments by successive regimes to empower PoJK community politically as they never ensured that the people of the community got elected for Assembly or Parliament".
He said it was the resolve of today's rally that the PoJK community should field its own candidates in the areas where the community has strong presence. "It is a valid suggestion but it needs a strong wisdom on our part. Political parties know the art of befooling the people. They can reach out to you because they have good resources. We, being a neglected lot, lack such resources. We will have to work wisely and cautiously while executing any such plan". He cautioned the LG administration that the people of PoJK community were fed up with false promises as it made no acknowledgement of their demands during the last four years.
Mr Chuni emphasized that the financial package announced for the refugees in 2014 has been effectively diluted, leaving all promises made with community unfulfilled. He said, "In 2014, the Central government announced a package intended to support PoJK refugee families. This package included: A financial package of Rs 25 lakh for each refugee family. Reservation for the wards of refugees in professional colleges. 8500 government jobs to unemployed educated youths of PoJK DPs. Other provisions aimed at addressing the refugees' needs. However, the implementation of this package has fallen short of expectations, with all major demands being ignored altogether". Chuni also criticized the central government for ignoring the PoJK refugees after reservation granted to Pahari communities.
He accused the government of betrayal, stating that the refugees have been consistently denied their rightful entitlements. Chuni outlined four major demands that have been consistently raised by the PoJK refugee community including Rs 25 lakh to all PoJK displaced families, reservation in Professional and Technical Institutes for educated youth of the community and job package for them, reservation of eight seats in J&K Legislative Assembly and grant of Pahari Status to all PoJK displaced community members. Another critical issue he raised was related to the land allotted to PoJK refugees.
"Under Article 3 of the erstwhile J&K State, refugees were permitted to sell and mortgage their property. However, following the abrogation of Article 370, these rights have been curtailed, transforming the land into a liability for the refugees, " he said. The leader also drew a comparison with the Valley Migrants, highlighting that despite their smaller population of approximately 200,000, they have been allocated one seat in the Assembly segment following delimitation. This, according to Chuni, underscored the disparity in the treatment of PoJK refugees. He warned that they would launch a vigorous and massive agitation if the government fails to address the genuine and legitimate issues of the community without any further delay.
"The government shall be responsible for any physical or financial loss to our people during the agitation to be launched shortly, " he warned, saying "if the government has plans and policies for Kashmiri migrants, why it has been living in complete denial in case of PoJK people". Others who attended the rally included Vinod Datta, Prof. N N Sharma, Prof Suresh, Ved Raj Bali, Jagjeet Singh, D V Gupta, Satinder Gupta, Daleep Sharma, Ravi Kant Dutta, Harbans Sabharwal & others.
