Will establish Refugees Welfare Board: Congress

Jammu: In a last-minute effort to woo refugees, Congress on Sunday announced that it would establish a Refugees Welfare Board which will go a long way in resolving their pending issues if it is voted to power.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) senior leader Ravinder Sharma while interacting with refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 in a series of meetings in Jammu and Kathua districts, said that Congress has accepted their long pending demand for the establishment of a separate Refugees welfare board to resolve their long pending issues and frame policies for their youths.
“Besides the financial package, recommended by Congress-NC government on the initiative of Congress and instructions of Dr Manmohan Singh will be fully implemented,” Sharma said.
He alleged that the BJP government betrayed the POJK refugees by sanctioning only a meager package of Rs 5.5 lakhs against Rs 30 lakhs and snatched rights to sell their land.
The recommendations for reservation of refugee wards have been ignored and against the promise of eight assembly seats, only one seat has been kept for 14 lakh population.
He said that Congress has considered all genuine demands of refugees and promised in its manifesto for assembly elections. “There is also a scope for seeking political representation in the proposed upper house in the quota of inadequately represented sections,” he said.