The BJP-PDP alliance Government in Jammu & Kashmir has apparently taken a U-turn on the promise of providing `5 lakh ex-gratia (from the State Government’s quota) to the next of kin of all soldiers from the State who attained martyrdom in the line of duty.
So far the State Government has given `5 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of only those Army and CAPF personnel from the State who attained martyrdom in J&K only. The families of those martyrs from the State who attained martyrdom elsewhere in the country were neither given cash or job.
After the Uri terror attack there was a great public sentiment to give ex-gratia to all martyrs’ families.
Significantly, on October 15, 2016 Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh had issued a statement clearly stating, "It has happened for the first time in the history of J&K that any Government has honoured the sensitivity of its coalition partner, the BJP, and unanimously taken a Cabinet decision to treat the martyrs of Army and other Central Security Forces at par with those of J&K Police and provide them ex-gratia of `5 lakh and a job under SRO-43 to one of the members of the bereaved family".
Ironically, on Saturday when the Deputy Chief Minister visited the residence of BSF jawan Gurnam Singh, who had attained martyrdom along the International Border in Hiranagar sector on October 21, 2016 he simply assured the family that the Government would provide all the necessary support to them including the provision of job to the next of the kin besides ensuring that the ex-gratia amount of `5 lakh (from the Centre) and `1 lakh from the State Government is provided to them at the earliest".
On October 15, while hailing the decision of the alliance Government even the State BJP spokesperson in a statement had claimed , "Dr Nirmal Singh successfully persuaded the Chief Minister after whose consent the Government has agreed to give ex-gratia and job under SRO-43 to the next of kin on compassionate grounds to the families of all martyrs belonging to Army and CAPF hailing from the State who attain martyrdom anywhere in the country".
"The decision of the Government will act as a great morale booster for all soldiers from J&K and their families who are serving in different parts of the country. Bharatiya Janata Party hopes and appeals to the government that these provisions be effective from retrospective effect.
This act of the BJP-PDP Government is a befitting reply to those who were trying to politicise the issue and casting aspersions on the Government and our party", summed up the party Spokesperson.
After the Uri terror attack there was a great public sentiment to give ex-gratia to all martyrs’ families.
“In keeping with the public sentiments and commitment of the Bharatiya Janata Party to look after the soldiers and veterans the Party leadership decided to raise the issue with the Government and included the demand of giving ex-gratia to all martyrs’ families even if they were martyred outside the State as well as provision of job on compassionate grounds.
Dr Nirmal Singh had earlier provided cash assistance to the tune of `5 lakh to each bereaved families of Subedar Karnail Singh of Shibuchak falling in Bishnah and Havaldar Ravi Pal of Saarba village of Samba Assembly Constituency martyred in Uri attack on September 18, 2016.