Youth Cong slams govt for ‘denying’ ex gratia to families of Uri martyrs

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 25

The Pradesh Youth Congress (PYC) today alleged that to appease the separatists and other anti-national elements, the PDP-BJP coalition government is denying ex gratia to the kin of Uri martyrs, who belonged to the Jammu region. The party regretted that instead of honouring the martyrs, the government was brazenly disrespecting the bravehearts.

Addressing activists of the party during a protest against BJP-led NDA government for its failure to give a befitting reply to Pakistan after the Uri terror attack, PYC chief Pranav Shagotra took state BJP leaders to the task for disrespecting Dogra soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation. He said other states of the country had already announced ex gratia for the kin of the martyrs of the Uri terror attack but the J&K Government had not made any such announcement.

Shockingly the BJP, which is an equal partner in the coalition, has urged the government to announce ex gratia rather than making its own announcement.

“It is shameful that the Deputy Chief Minister went to the houses of the martyrs but he could not dare to announce ex gratia due to fear of separatist leaders,” the PYC chief alleged, adding, “The priority of this government is to appease the Hurriyat Conference and other separatist groups of the Valley thus this regime is not going to take any decision in favour of the armed forces”.

He said the UP Government had announced an ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh each to next of the kin of the bravehearts. Similarly Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra Governments had announced a relief of Rs 11 lakh, Rs 10 lakh and 15 lakh, respectively, to family members of the martyrs hailing from the respective states.

The Youth Congress activists also burnt effigy of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for supporting and harbouring terrorism.

Shouting slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the activists staged a protest at Tawi Bridge and disrupted vehicular movement. A large number of locals also joined the activists’ protest.