Apni Party for Defreezing of 8 Legislative Assembly Seats for Displaced Persons in J&K

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party has demanded de-freezing of 8 Legislative Assembly seats out of 24 freeze seats in Jammu and Kashmir in favour of Pakistan [Administered] Jammu and Kashmir Displaced Persons.

In a joint statement to the press, Provincial President Jammu, Women Wing, Pavneet Kour and Provincial President Youth Wing, Jammu, Vipul Bali have expressed grave concern over the negligence of the PoJK people who have been deprived of their representation in the Legislative Assembly.

“For decades, our population suffered after they were uprooted in 1947, 1965 and 1971 from their ancestral houses and agricultural fields. These Displaced Persons (PoJKs) were settled in the border belt of Jammu region on the Line of Control and International Border,” they said.

They said that “The DPs were not given representation by reserving their seats in the Legislative Assembly. At the time, when the country has acknowledged different tribes and provided them reservation under the Indian Constitution, it becomes important to accept the political ignorance of the DPs and accordingly, 8 Legislative Assembly seats should be reserved for DPs in their respective constituencies across the Jammu region.”

“The nomination of one DP as legislator in the legislative assembly of J&K is not acceptable for the entire DP community. Therefore, the Govt must reconsider its decision, and grant political reservation on 8 Assembly seats in Jammu region,” they added.

They said that the DPs have faced ignorance for decades and their issues could not be resolved by the traditional political parties even after assurances and re-assurances.

“The DPs used a vote bank, but they were not granted political reservation so that they could address their own problems. The DPs are socially, economically, and politically backward even after having a vast population in the region,” they stated.

They said that the unemployment among young DPs has increased, and they are facing problems economically because of less scope of employment.

“The DPs should be provided reservation in jobs, and on the spot recruitment for the DP youths in the border belt,” they added.