Crediting Narendra Modi led BJP Government at the Centre for approving a `2,000-crore financial assistance for displaced people of Pakistan- occupied-Kashmir (PoK) living in the country J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Monday handed over cheques to some of the members of the displaced families at a simple ceremony.
While handing the cheques Mehbooba Mufti reminded all the beneficiaries, “Several Governments came to power in the State and talked about awarding compensation, even sought votes, but when it was their turn to deliver they failed to do so”.
Thanking the BJP leadership at the Centre Mehbooba Mufti said, “I need help from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders in fulfilling other commitments.”
Referring to her father, she said that Mufti Mohd Sayeed Mehbooba said he always accorded top priority to the humanitarian issue of rehabilitating displaced people. “I am happy today I am able to hand over these cheques to you and assure all possible assistance”.
Referring to the prevailing situation in the State Mehbooba urged her alliance partners to create conducive atmosphere to send across the message to the central BJP leadership that improving relationship with Pakistan is in the interest of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
Mehbooba Mufti said,“We have to go back to the era of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee when hostilities between the two neighboring countries were minimal and despite provocations like Kargil and Parliament attack, option of war was not even considered. Rather it led to opening of hearts and minds between the two sides which ultimately resulted into opening of borders, resumption of trade and more people to people contact”.
She said this time also we have to make an effort and diffuse the tensions on the border before making a fresh beginning.
She said even at the peak of hostilities trade activity across Wagah border and through transit points in Poonch-Rawalakote,Uri-Muzaffarbad continued.
The Chief Minister said she wishes the relations between the two countries (India and Pakistan) improve so that there is maximum trade and people’s interactions resulting into a consequential benefit to the people of the State.
Mehbooba Mufti said that wars all around have left behind a trail of death, destruction and displacement only.
She said people of the State hold an important responsibility of ensuring and leading to friendly relations between India and Pakistan.
Earlier in his address, Deputy Chief Minister, Nirmal Singh thanked the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti for ensuring that the displaced persons get their due.
He said the Government has been sensitive to the problems and difficulties of displaced people and is working for the mitigation of the same.
The Union Cabinet had earlier approved the Home Ministry’s proposal to provide enhanced financial aid to 36,384 families, who are mostly living in Jammu region after their displacement from PoK post Independence.
Each of these families would be receiving around `5.5 lakh as financial assistance.
Some of the families were displaced during partition in 1947, and others during the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan.