Jammu & Kashmir government playing politics with refugees: BJP

Jammu: BJP today hit out at the Jammu and Kashmir government, saying it was playing politics with the miseries of the refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and West Pakistan. "Forwarding a rehabilitation package for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir refugees just a few days ahead of the announcement of elections in Jammu and Kashmir is a gimmick and not any genuine concern or feeling for these unfortunate people," BJP state in-charge and party MP from Hoshiarpur constituency in Punjab Avinash Rai Khanna said today.

Khanna while addressing a party workers' meet in Jammu said, "It is most unfortunate that even after 65 years of Independence, a large population of this border state is living with the tag of refugee and are officially still treated as not the citizens of the state." He said his party was committed to resolve the issues of the refugees living in Jammu and Kashmir. "BJP is committed to remove the Refugee tag forever," he said. Khanna said that not including the refuges from West Pakistan in the package was a betrayal of the government towards the people of the state.

"The state government was sleeping earlier, but now to take political mileage, they have forwarded the proposal to the central government just before the state of Jammu and Kashmir prepares to go for election," Khanna said. The Jammu and Kashmir government had recently approved a one-time resettlement package of Rs 9,000 crore for refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The proposal was sent to the Union Government for its approval and the grant of funds.

Speaking on the occasion, BJP MP from Jammu Jugal Kishore Sharma said, "BJP victory in two states of Maharashtra and Haryana will have a positive impact on Jammu and Kashmir and Modi wave will sweep the state as well."