BJP backs refugees’ demand for easy relief disbursal

Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service 
Jammu, January 20 

Taking a serious note of the “cumbersome” process of the state in disbursing relief among West Pakistan refugees, the BJP on Sunday promised to take up the issue with the Centre as well as the Governor’s  administration to make the disbursement of the package easier. 

“We will take up the issue with the departments concerned to remove the hurdles in implementing the package announced by the Centre for West Pakistan refugees,” BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav reacted when his attention was drawn towards proofs being demanded from the refugees for getting relief. 

“Like refugees from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the relief disbursement process for dislocated people from West Pakistan will also be simplified so that all deserving people get the benefit of the package announced by the Centre,” Madhav said. 

As reported exclusively by The Tribune, the state authorities have played a cruel joke with 5,764 refugee families by asking them to submit a proof that their names figured in the voter lists of the 1951 or 1957 parliamentary elections, which were never held in J&K

Unlike other parts of the country, the parliamentary elections were held for the first time in J&K in 1967 but the West Pakistan refugees have been asked to submit the voter lists of the 1951 or 1957 Lok Sabha elections.

As reported earlier, the annoyed leaders of the refugees had already warned to launch an agitation if the process for disbursing relief was not simplified soon. 

To take up issue with Centre: Madhav

• The state authorities have asked 5,764 refugee families to submit a proof that their names figured in the voter lists of the 1951 or 1957 parliamentary elections, which were never held in J&K
• BJP leader Ram Madhav  will take up the issue with the departments concerned to remove the hurdles in implementing the package announced by the Centre for West Pakistan refugees