Rahul reaches out to people affected by Pak shelling
27 Aug 2015 6:37 AM IST
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday met the families affected by firing and shelling from Pakistan in areas along the Line of Control in Poonch and said the Centre should meet their demands, including on rehabilitation, compensation and insurance cover.
Gandhi, who began his three-day visit to J&K, spoke to the families of six civilians, including a headman and a teacher who were killed in ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Balakote on Independence day.
“I have come all the way to share your pain and grief of losing your near ones,” he told Azim, whose brother Amin was killed and another sibling Ramiz injured in the shelling.
The Congress Vice-President, who was accompanied by party leader Ambika Soni and J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief Gulam Ahmed Mir, interacted with family of 52-year-old sarpanch Karamat Hussain, who was killed in the firing, and assured them of all possible help.
The residents of villages hit by ceasefire violations demanded rehabilitation to safer areas and insurance cover for people and property including crops and livestock. “People here are very worried, scared.... These are valid demands. I think the government of India should look into it, do something about it,” Gandhi said.
“They say when someone is killed in terror attack, they get more compensation. Those killed by Pakistani shells get less compensation. They said the compensation should be same,” said the Congress leader, who will also visit Kashmir and Ladakh regions.
There have been 51 violations of the 2003 ceasefire by Pakistan in August and over 245 violations this year so far.
Gandhi also took on PM Narendra Modi and alleged there was “<g data-gr-id="27">over centralisation</g> of power” in the Central government blocking the functioning of the entire system and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not fulfilling promises.
Army and militants Clash in Uri
A gunbattle broke out between heavily armed militants and security forces in Uri sector of J&K on Wednesday morning. On a specific input, security forces launched a cordon and search operation at 7 am in Qazimar area following information about <g data-gr-id="44">presence</g> of militants there, an Army officer said. It is reported that 4-5 militants are hiding in Bijhama in Uri sector.
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