Announce policy for ex-gratia to families of J&K martyrs on Independence Day: Harsh

15/08/2017

JAMMU, Aug 14: Peeved over the J&K government showing empty coffers to the NOKs of the State martyrs who had sacrificed their 'today' for our 'tomorrow', Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP and former Minister insisted that instead of doling premium to the anti-nationals and subversives in the valley, the BJP-PDP combine should announce a policy with adequate ex-gratia for the families of the martyrs as a tribute to them on the eve of 71st Independence Day. He was addressing a press conference in Jammu today.
Expressing serious concern over the humiliation of the martyrs in the State, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh revealed that while the martyrs of other states were honoured and adequately paid the ex-gratia by the respective State governments, the government of J&K most contemptuously refused to pay compensation to the sons of the soil who laid down their lives for the Motherland. Recalling the supreme sacrifice of 11 warriors, all hailing from Jammu Pradesh who attained supreme sacrifice during Kargil War in 1999, he rued that the State government was yet to take the cognizance of the war heroes whose families deserved ex-gratia and other benefits with dignity and honour on priority. He further reminisced the highest sacrifices of several warriors of the State including Lt. Umar Fayaz martyrd in South Kashmir in May 2017, Lance Naik Mohd. Naseer who was martyred during cross border firing in Poonch in July 2017, Capt. Tushar Mahajan of Udhampur who was martyred in Kashmir in 2016, Subedar Karnail Singh of Bishnah and Haveldar Ravi Paul of Samba who attained martyrdom in Uri attack in 2016, six martyrs of 6 Dogra regiment who attained supreme sacrifice in Manipur ambush in 2015, Naik Mool Raj of Jakh who attained martyrdom while fighting Pak militants in Pathankot, Constable Santosh Singh and Constable Azad Chand who were killed in 2013 Handwara terror attack besides others. Taking a pot shot at the State dispensation and BJP in particular for its treacherous character, Mr. Singh regretted that while State of Haryana which was being ruled by the BJP paid Rs. 50 lacs ex-gratia and promised other hefty benefits to Sepoy Mandeep Singh whose body was mutilated by the militants in Kashmir last year but unlike other states, the BJP in J&K along with its ally PDP persistently disparaged the martyrs and glorified the militants only to tow the secessionist agenda for remaining glued to power.
Dismayed over Central and State governments for not taking the case of Chamail Singh seriously, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh recalled that the convicted Indian who was a resident of village Pargwal in Akhnoor was brutally murdered in Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan and his family was still struggling for justice.
While citing the example of Sarabjeet Singh who was also killed in Pakistan under similar circumstances he said that his family was compensated with Rs. 1 crore 25 lacs and other benefits by Punjab Government but lamented that BJP led governments in the Centre and the State failed miserably to accord the status of a martyr to Chamail Singh and paid no heed to pay a single penny to the family of the deceased so far.
Accusing the BJP- PDP combine for ignoring the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Motherland, he rebuked the State govt.'s reprobate policy of appeasing the separatists who had waged war against the country while it out rightly denied much deserved ex-gratia to the Indian brave hearts. Reminding Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about his pronouncements to provide Rs.1 crore ex-gratia to the NoKs of martyrs, Mr. Singh asked the State govt. to confer special posthumous gallantry awards and announce immediate ex-gratia compensation to the bereaved families of all the martyrs of J&K as a token of tribute to them on the occasion of 71st Independence Day.
Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that BJP which was already exposed for its demagoguery and cowardly surrenders owed an explanation to the people for remaining mute on the issue of martyrs. He said that Panthers party would relentlessly oppose and expose the Saffron brigade for bringing disgrace to the revered State heroes until adequate ex-gratia compensation with due respect were ensured to their bereaved families. Mr. Gagan Pratap Singh Spokesman JKNPP was also present during the press conference.

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