J&K BJP State Spokesperson Prof. Virender Gupta expressed his dismay on the non-implementation of some of the components of the Agenda of Alliance and said that one of the components of Agenda was “to take measure for sustenance and livelihood of the West Pakistan Refugees”. He said that keeping this provision of the agenda in mind Union Government should ask the state Government for issuance of cast certificates to the West Pakistan refugees so that they can avail the benefits of reservation in Central Government jobs and the welfare schemes launched by the Government of India from time to time, the Spokesperson said and added that even the directions issued in 2002 for their absorption in Central Armed Police Forces were not implemented till date andl fresh rejoinder in the matter to the CAPF has fallen on deaf years. He also expressed his anguish that the concerned authorities have also not acted upon the agreement reached between the alliance partners, PDP and BJP to grant admission to their wards in technical education and KVs, even through the Union Home Ministry issued directives in the matter.
Prof. Virender said that West Pakistan refugees are hapless people who after being uprooted from West Pakistan in 1947 landed in Jammu and Kashmir with high hopes of leading honourable and dignified life, failed in getting citizenship right of J&K, which is an integral part of Indian Republic, even after 70 years of their displacement.
The Spokesperson asked the Government of India to appoint a Nodal Officer who can look into their day to day grievances and take steps for their redressal. He further added that seats for their wards be reserved in the institutions outside J&K State and they should be provided scholarship for persuing their studies as being done in case of minorities and other downtrodden people. He said that steps should be taken to facilitate the issuance of cast certificate in their favour.
Prof. Virender Gupta, also highlighted the issue of one time settlement for displaced persons of 1947, 1965 and 1971 from Pakistan occupied part of Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed dissatisfaction on the pace of work regarding the released of 1st installment of the settlement money out of the Rs 2000 Crore as approved by the Government of India and further requested the Government of India for sanctioning the additional amount to meet the complete settlement as per recommendations of the committee constituted for the purpose. He also said that those displaced persons who have not got themselves registered so far be provided an opportunity to get themselves registered as displaced persons of POJK.
