Between 2002 and 2014 when the Congress was in power with both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC) in Jammu & Kashmir, over 1,200 incidents of ceasefire violations were reported.
During the same period hundreds of border residents were displaced from their homes and hearths and a few of them even lost their lives while their houses were targeted by the Pakistani troops both along the International border and the line of control.
However, the Congress failed to convince both its alliance partners to sanction 5 marlas of plot for affected population falling in the direct line of fire. And now, when the Congress is at the Opposition bench both in the State Assembly and inside the lok Sabha, its top leadership is gearing up to launch a nation-wide campaign to earn justice and adequate compensation package, including 5 marlas of plot, a Government job for victims of cross border firing, and separate recruitment drive for unemployed youth in the region.
The announcement was made by leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and former State Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in RS Pura on Wednesday. Azad visited several hamlets along with AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni and State Congress chief GA Mir and interacted with victims of border firing.
After giving a patient hearing to the local representatives at different camps who apprised the visiting leaders about their demands especially 5 marla plots in safer zones, individual bunkers, reservation like RBA and special recruitment in paramilitary and State Police besides provision for schooling of border children in boarding schools, enhancement of ex-gratia relief and compensation for the human loss and livestock, Azad assured them that congress party would stand shoulder to shoulder with them in support of their genuine demands and continue to fight till their demands are met.
Addressing the border residents, Azad expressed grave concern over the repeated incidents of border firing and escalated tension with Pakistan.
Condemning Pakistan for resorting to cease fire violation targeting the civilian population, Azad said that there was comparatively calm on the border and loC with Pakistan during UPA regime and there were few such incidents of cross border firings but during the NDA regime it has become a routine situation and the border residents and jawans are becoming regular targets and getting martyred. The border residents are getting disturbed time and again from their homes depriving them of properties and education of their children.
He said the BJP used to raise lot of hue and cry over such rare incidents and would describe the UPA Govt. as weak but now when situation on the border has worsened a lot as also in Kashmir, he questioned the Modi Government of its strong policy. He said there does not appear to be any policy of the BJP Government towards Pakistan and on Kashmir and said that the Congress will seek discussion in the Parliament over the border situation at the earliest possible opportunity.