DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
VIJAYPUR (SAMBA), Aug 2
Accusing the Govt of misleading the Displaced Persons (DPs)/Refugees in Jammu and Kashmir, the Apni Party Provincial President, Jammu, and Former Minister, S. Manjit Singh has strongly opposed the Central Govt for not granting proprietary rights to the DPs/Refugees on the Custodian land.
Addressing a meeting of the Apni Party at Vijaypur, the Party’s Provincial President, and Former Minister expressed his shock over the granting of ownership rights to the DPs/Refugees of Chhamb (1965-1971) in Jammu Region over the state land while denying their longstanding demand of proprietary rights on the Custodian Land.
“These families of DPs/Refugees had to migrate in difficult times following hostility between India-Pakistan in the border areas where they owned private property/agricultural land. However, following their displacement from their ancestral land to the other places where they were settled by then Govts in J&K,” he reminded, addressing the meeting.
He said that “For decades, these DPs/Refugees demanded ownership rights to the allottees on the Custodian Land so that they can get the compensation as well as other facilities from the Govt. But their genuine demand was not considered by the Govt, and a decision was taken to give them ownership rights on the state land which is an injustice and an attempt to rub salt on the wounds of the DPs/Refugees.”
“Three to four generations of DPs / Refugees took care and nourished the Custodian Land for decades,” he asserted, extending support to their demands.
He further stated that these DPs/Refugees are not given compensation whenever their land (Custodian Land) comes under any project like highway or other developmental projects.
“The compensation is paid to the Custodian Land because the title of the land remains unchanged although the people are cultivating and have constructed their houses/commercial establishments on the above said land,” he said, expressing dismay over the inhuman attitude of the Govt towards the poor financial condition of the DPs/Refugees.
He also demanded to remove the land deficiency of the DPs/Refugees.
“The DPs/Refugees have serious concern because their land that was allotted to them was acquired for construction of Govt projects, and canal work but they were not compensated with alternative land to remove the deficiency of the land,” he added.
He said that the Govt has misled the people of Jammu and Kashmir because there was already an order to give property rights to the DPs/Refugees on State Land.
He however demanded that the Govt should consider granting property rights to the locals residing on the Custodian Land / State Land since 1947.
Expressing concern, he said that the Govt unfortunately closed the package that was sanctioned by then Central Govt after paying Rs 5.5 lakhs to the DPs/Refugees.
“The Central Govt had sanctioned Rs 25 lakhs for the DPs/Refugees. However, only Rs 5.5 lakhs was released, and then the package was closed. Thus, denying them their right to get the complete package,” he added.
He said that the assurances were made that their package amount would be released. However, that remained an unfulfilled promise.
“Even as the DPs/Refugees have raised their voice and supported the BJP since 2014 at Parliamentary elections yet the national party has denied fulfilling the pending demands of the DPs/Refugees,” he added.
He demanded that the pending package payment should be released in favour of the DPs/Refugees.
