Sikh Religious and Political Organizations Hold Press Conference,Connection with the recent developments pertaining to the 1947 POK Refugees:-

GNS JAMMU AUG, 24 :It is a pleasant surprise that  Saif-ud-Din Soz, State Congress 

Chief, along with other Sr. Party Leaders, in the long last, have 

woken up from 65 years long deep slumber and some welcome murmur has 

taken place in the high circles at Delhi pertaining to the hapless 

1947, POK Refugees plus other categories of refugees.

Earlier during 2004 general elections campaign S. Manmohan Singh while 

addressing a 1947, Refugee basti at Simbal Camp, had categorically 

assured the audience, that grievances of the 1947, POK refugees would 

be resolved, if voted to power. But, after attaining political power

at the centre, this commitments was given a go-bye, except monitoring 

the internally displaced K.P.s who are part of the Nehru vian clan. 

Likewise recommendations made by different committees, interlocutors 

and commissions  such as  N.N. Vohra, Wadhwa committee, Pant.

Committee and the centrally appointed interlocutors viz-a-viz the 1947 

POK refugees has not seen, light of the day till days.

Most pitiably, Governments at the State & Center levels exhibit their 

concern solely the Valleytte migrants who willfully left their places 

of birth during 1989-90, when the valley was valiantly defended by the 

brave Indian soldiers, whereas, POK-refugees had to flee towards 

Capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu that too when  so advised by the 

State Forces  in the face of superior man and fire power of the 

Tribals, aided and abetted by Pak Regulars. Thus, the POK Refugees 

suffered colossal loss in terms of human souls and movable / 

immoveable property, in contrast to the valleyite migrants.

The plight of now over Twelve Lakh POK Refugees continues hanging in 

the air with none to care.

Quite dishonestly, the authorities have all along been clubbing 1947 

POK refugees with those uprooted from west Punjab without bothering to 

differentiate the two categories – Former being First Class State 

Subjects and the later being Non-State Subjects. Based upon facts, POK 

refugees are the liability of the State and therefore, the Central 

governments, whereas West Punjab Refugees are liability of Punjab and

Central Govts.

We wish to be treated separately and at the same time seek respectable 

resolution of West Pakistan Refugees.

The high level delegation headed by Jenab Prof. Soz with Central 

leadership is welcome. But we are still unclear as to what will be the 

composition of proposed committee as also he powers vested with the 

Committee. We also wish the committee to be constituted forthwith and 

will not prove simply an eye wash to gain time as has been happening 

in the past.

While paying, thanks to Hon’ble Prime Minister, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, the 

party chief and Hon’ble Home Minister for the proposal, we envisage 

that Prof. Soz will constantly continue with his efforts to bring this 

long pending issue to its logical conclusion, mitigating the 

sufferings and frustration of the POK Refugees.

We demand that Inter-Ministerial Committee be constituted and given 

powers to recommend final resolution of the POK Refugees as per 

their aspirations.

We also demand from the Central and State Government  that POK 1947 

refugees be treated at par with other internally displaced lot in the 

shape of cash dole, reservation for wards of the refugees in the

technical institutions, special employment package till permanent one 

time settlement of this class is decided and implemented.

Those who attended the Press Conference included S.Mohinder Singh, 

President SAD (B), S.J.S. Mangal, National Vice President SAD (A), S. 

Suchwant Singh, Spokesman SAD (B), S. Ranjit Singh, Vice President SAD 

(A), S. Dalip Singh, President, DGPC, S. Attar Singh, Cashier, Member 

DGPC, S. Ranjit Singh and S. Surjit Singh, Ex-General Secretary, DGPC, 

Jammu.