Poonch: National Conference on Thursday sought immediate and amicable end to the Indo-Pak hostilities on the Line of Control, saying that the brunt of border shelling is solely being borne by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We sincerely hope that the two nations would eschew hostilities and work for an enabling environment for generations to lead a peaceful and dignified life”, Provincial President Devender Singh Rana said while addressing the people of Panchayat Qasba at the Zero Line, which is the country’s highest lane-prone area with maximum number of victims.
National Conference leaders are the first to reach this forward village to have on the spot feel of suffering being faced by the people due to shelling.
Rana said the dark shadows of hostilities have cost future of people and retarded the growth of those living in forward areas in particular. “Our people are living in constant fear and perpetual threat that has taken toll of their normal life”, he said and referred to the victims of mine explosions and shelling, most of who have been rendered permanently disabled. He said these human tragedies call for ending the baggage of the past to pave way for tranquility and lasting peace. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir in general and the border dwellers in particular would be the biggest beneficiaries of peace between India and Pakistan”, he maintained.
He hoped that Pakistan will stop infiltration besides border shelling and help in creating a conducive atmosphere for initiating a meaningful dialogue for peace.
The Provincial President made a passionate appeal for saving the border dwellers from mortars and bullets, as they were the country’s first line of defence. “These people are the real patriots, which should open up the eyes of those trumpeting their ultra-nationalism”, he said and lamented that these hapless people have been left in lurch by those who brag on their nationalistic credentials, day in and day out.
The Provincial President expressed solidarity with the border dwellers and told them not to feel alone during the hours of crisis, as the entire nation and the people of the State were with them. He, however, criticized the PDP-BJP dispensation for ignoring the border dwellers and paying no heed to their grievances and problems. He said all the promises made to border areas have proved hoax, as the insensitive dispensation was engaged in playing politics with their emotions.
Responding to the plight of the border dwellers, he urged the Chief Minister to show some empathy towards them by ensuring promised plots and jobs to youth. He sought special recruitment drive for the border youth and enhanced compensation for those getting killed in shelling. He said those falling prey to bullets, civilians or the security forces, are the proud citizens of this country and the nation owes gratitude to them.
The Provincial President gave an overview of the overall situation, saying Kashmir is burning, Jammu too is suffering from chaos due to governance deficit and problems of the people are multiplying with each passing day. “But, the government is nowhere to be seen”, he said and exhorted the people to meet all these challenges unitedly and courageously.
Speaking on the occasion, Provincial Youth National Conference President Ajaz Jan expressed anguish over nonchalant and lackadaisical attitude of the PDP-BJP government towards the plight of the border sufferers. “They have lost the moral grandstanding to rule this state, as the sufferings of the people are increasing with each passing day”, he added.
Jan said that the promises made with the border people have not been fulfilled and compensation is yet to be provided to majority of the shelling victims and those whose properties have been damaged.
He gave a vivid account of devastation caused in the border villages due to constant shelling over the years.
Among others, State Vice President Th Kashmira Singh, State Secretary Th Rachpal Singh and Provincial Vice President Ch Haroon were present on the occasion. (KNS)
