Don’t take us for granted, PoJK refugees, votes will be decisive; Chuni to political parties

NOWSHERA: The S. O. S. International, the frontline Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) refugee organization, on Sunday came down heavily on all political parties for neglecting the legitimate demands of PoJK displaced persons in their manifestoes and warned that the community’s votes will be crucial in determining the outcome of the forthcoming Assembly elections in the Union Territory.

The organisation, under the leadership of its chairman Rajiv Chuni, held an impressive meeting of senior members of the community in Nowshera to deliberate on their role in the upcoming Assembly elections. The meeting, in one voice, criticized all political parties for making no mention of PoJK refugees in their election manifestoes and warned against taking this community for granted.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Chuni said, “Elections are being held in Jammu and Kashmir after a gap of 10 years. The new government will have the authority to determine the allocation of resources and benefits among different communities, while the Central government’s role will also continue”. “Upon reviewing the manifestoes of various political parties, it is evident that PoJK displaced persons, a community of 12 lakh people with 6.5 lakh voters, are barely mentioned.

Only one or two parties have made passing references, which is a grave injustice to this community. No concrete promises have been made to PoJK displaced persons, who have consistently been overlooked in every election,” the senior refugee leader said, adding “We are currently assessing each party’s manifesto and will formulate a unified response for the elections.” Mr Chuni claimed that there are 28 out of the total 90 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir where our community has a dominant presence and could significantly influence the outcome of elections.

“Despite our significant presence, we are being overlooked, which is both unjust and discriminatory. Our influence will be particularly decisive in the second phase of elections, including in Poonch, Rajouri and Reasi districts,” he said. The refugee leader said they will assess the commitments of each political party, individual candidate and take appropriate action accordingly. “We will communicate our collective decision to all community voters through social media platforms, such as WhatsApp Broadcast groups, Phone calls before commencement of second phase of elections on September 25, to ensure a unified and impactful effort in this election,” he said.

He expressed dismay over the approach of all political parties toward addressing their legitimate demands, saying they have been neglecting the community because its members were not united. “Unfortunately, we are giving the false impression that we are disorganized and fragmented. This is not the case. I have been advocating for our community for 30 years and know our strength and unity well. Any political party that underestimates us is mistaken and will face defeat,” he asserted. Mr Chuni further noted, “Our people are struggling without jobs, land, or means of daily sustenance. Our children are unable to pursue higher education due to financial constraints.

We have been asking for a comprehensive job policy and compensation for properties left behind when we fled. Yet, our requests for a sustenance allowance or compensation remain unaddressed, fearing it would signal relinquishment of our rights to Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In a well knit conspiracy As part of a conspiracy, we were denied 8 Assembly seats to make us politically empowered even though several committees and commissions formed by the government had recommended the same”.

The leader said that while assembly elections offer political parties a chance to attain power, they also present an opportunity for our community to have our issues addressed. “We urge all community members not to be swayed by offers of liquor, money, or other inducements from political parties. Instead, we must vote with the future of our next generation in mind. Our sole power is our vote, and we should elect individuals who are truly deserving and committed to serving our community and ensuring our welfare,” he said. He added, “Despite the shortcomings in every party’s manifesto, this is our chance to scrutinize each candidate's commitments and make informed choices.

We will announce which candidates deserve our votes based on their integrity and dedication. Candidates relying on coercion or bribery are unlikely to serve our community well. Unity is crucial; only together can we achieve our goals. Only our unity will enable us to achieve our goals”. The leader said there was a great enthusiasm among the participants of the meeting. “Our unity will exert pressure on political parties, demonstrating that our community can influence the outcome of elections”.

Mr Chuni announced that the next community meeting is scheduled for September 15 at Dhanwan, near Kali Daab Bridge, on Nowshera-Rajouri highway, urging members to attend in large numbers to reinforce their united stance and continue their struggle for recognition. Prominent among those who attended the meeting were VK Datta, Ashok Choudhary, Ved Raj Bali, Daleep Choudhary, Gurdeep Kumar, Susheel Choudhary, Ram Singh, Sanjay Choudhary, Gurnam Singh, Jagjit Singh, DS Chib, SD Gupta, Vipan Sharma, Nitin Dutta and others.