Former Minister S. Manjit Singh Says Jatts Always Guarded Jammu Border as 2nd Line of Defence, Govt Shall Listen to Their Grievances
Diplomat Correspondent
JAMMU: – J&K Jatt Sabha appealed to the Govt of India to extend the benefit of the Other Backward Class (OBC) to the Jatts of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.
“These Jatts have taught shoulder to shoulder with the Indian Army in uniform, as well as in civic clothes as guardians of the borders of Jammu region,” said Former Minister, and President of J&K Jatt Sabha.
Sabha members, Chudhary Rashpal, Partap Choudhary, Rakesh Choudhary, Jarnail and Balbir Choudhary, organised a meeting at Sanji Morh, Banyari in Hiranagar Sub Division in Kathua District to deliberate about the issues confronted by the Jatts of Jammu and Kashmir, especially about growing concerns of unemployment among the youth, and drug addiction.
In his address, the Former Minister S. Manjit Singh said that the rights of the guardians of the Jammu Border shall be protected by providing them benefits under OBC in Govt employment, Defence, Paramilitary and professional/educational institutions across the country.
He remembered how their ancestors fought three battles and hundreds of their families were displaced as a result of wars in 1947-48, 1965 and 1971.
“Their displaced families were allotted land – mostly barren and infertile – by the Govt in the border belt. The lives of these people became more troubling when they turned the barren land into fertile by growing crops and vegetables year after year for more than seven decades,” he said.
He said that when the Jatts claim compensation on the land they hold, they are denied their rights and the compensation is granted to a Govt Department discrediting their efforts, and protection to the land.
“The Govt shall ensure that whenever the land allotted to the Jatts / Displaced Persons / Refugees is taken for any project or defence purposes, the compensation shall directly be given to the holder of the land,” he added.
He also referred to the one time settlement cases where compensation is pending and such cases remain unresolved.
“The administration does not respond positively to the grievances of the Jatts. If the issues of the Jatts are not addressed properly, they will come on the roads,” he threatened.
He demanded compensation to the people whose land has come under the fence on the International Border, ditch and other border constructions because they have not received the same.
Meanwhile, Ex-MP Tarlok Singh Bajwa raised the alarming situation of drug addiction in the society and its adverse impact on the future generation, including Jatt Youths.
He said that the members of civil society, police and members of the victim families shall come forward to protect the younger generation from the menace of drugs.
The Ex-MP extended full support to the J&K Jatt Sabha’s President for his concern about the neglect of OBC benefits to the Jatts in Central Govt jobs.
He said that the youth used to get recruited in the Army but the new Agniveer policy has derailed the aspirations of the youth who want to defend the motherland by getting a stable job in the defence forces.
Ex-Minister Choudhary Sukhnandan, Ex-Minister Choudhary Garu Ram, MLA Vikram Randhwa, and DDC Taranjit Singh Tony also addressed the meeting and highlighted various concerns.
Prominent among those who were present on the occasion include Ex-Corporator and District President Jammu Urban, Dwarka Choudhary; District President Jammu Rural, Manjit Jatt; District President, Samba, Bachan Choudhary; Choudhary Jarnail Singh; Choudhary Partap; Kamal Choudhary, Harbans Choudhary, and others.DD
