Virinderjit seeks Rs 30 Lakh compensation for Invasion Victims
JAMMU, Oct 23: National Sikh Front (NSF) Chairman Sardar Virinderjit Singh today urged the Union Government to move a solemn resolution in both Houses of Parliament honouring the victims of the 1947 Pakistan-backed tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir, whose suffering and sacrifices form an important chapter in the history of safeguarding Kashmir and Poonch.
Commemorating the 79th anniversary of the invasion, Singh paid heartfelt tributes to those killed in the massacres and remembered the thousands of families uprooted from Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Tehsil Bagh, Bhimber, Kotli, Palandri, affected parts of Poonch and areas of the Kashmir Valley.
He recalled that the invasion brought widespread killings, abductions, destruction and forced displacement, compelling families to abandon ancestral homes, agricultural holdings, businesses and generations of accumulated wealth.
“The tragedy of 1947 was not merely about territories lost. Behind every abandoned home was a displaced family, and behind every massacre were lives shattered beyond repair,” Singh said.
He observed that the resistance of local defenders, the sacrifices of civilians and the valour of the Indian armed forces together contributed to safeguarding Kashmir, Poonch and other territories that remained with India.
“Those who sacrificed their lives resisting aggression, and those who endured the suffering of displacement, deserve recognition beyond occasional commemorations. Their place in the history of Jammu and Kashmir must be acknowledged by the nation’s Parliament,” he asserted.
Referring to the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s recommendation of Rs 30 lakh compensation per displaced family, Singh said the Rs 5.50 lakh subsequently provided under the Central rehabilitation package had been widely regarded among displaced families as an initial instalment, creating expectations of receiving the remaining Rs 24.50 lakh.
He urged the Centre to examine the longstanding demand for the balance of the recommended package, reassess compensation in view of inflation and establish a time-bound mechanism to settle unresolved eligible rehabilitation claims in consultation with displaced families.
“Even Rs 30 lakh was modest against the properties and livelihoods abandoned in 1947. Its purchasing power has diminished substantially, but the responsibility to provide meaningful rehabilitation remains,” Singh observed.
The NSF Chairman appealed for a Parliamentary resolution formally acknowledging the massacres, paying homage to the civilians and defenders who lost their lives, and recognising the suffering, resilience and contribution of displaced communities. “A Parliamentary tribute would honour those who never returned, while meaningful rehabilitation would honour those who survived. The nation owes remembrance to the former and justice to the latter,” Singh.