DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Dec 8
Jammu and Kashmir BJP Village Defence Guard (VDG) Cell Convenor, Basant Raj Thakur, while addressing a press conference at party headquarter, Jammu, expressed gratitude to the LG administration for releasing three months salary in favour of VDGs in the UT.
Basant Raj Thakur said that the BJP government at the centre redesigned the policy towards the VDCs (Village Defence Committees) and converted them into VDGs. They got only three months honorarium for three months. They were demanding the regular release of their honorarium on monthly basis and the LG administration has now released the same yesterday, which have provided a big relief to the VDGs.
Thakur said that the role of VDCs, now called VDGs, have been splendid during the peak times of militancy in erstwhile Doda district as well as other areas, where the people were feeling insecure and wanted to migrate to safer places leaving their homes and hearths. The VDGs induced a sense of security among them and as a result there was no migration. He shared that the VDCs were setup after massive Doda bacho Andolan was launched for the safety and security of the people in 1992-93 and during all these years they have been putting their best services, even many of them sacrificed their lives.
He said that the VDGs are also thankful to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, J&K BJP leadership, especially party president Ravinder Raina, General Secretary (Org.) Ashok Koul, General Secretary and former Minister Sunil Sharma, as well as the LG Manoj Sinha, the DGP, J&K Police and the SSPs of the district for the release of their honorarium.
The BJP leader appealed the LG and the DGP not to post these VDGs in police stations but allow them to continue work in their respective areas.
BJP Media Incharge Dr. Pardeep Mohtra spoke on the contribution of the VDGs in inducing a sense of security among the people who were terrorized and targeted by the armed militants in hilly and far flung areas. BJP All Cells Co-Convenor Ved Sharma said that the VDGs have done splendid work in their respective areas and the people have developed faith in them. They should be paid regular honorarium so that they can arrange their meals and meet other necessary expenditure.
