The annual Vijayadashami address of the RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat has brought smiles on the faces of hundreds of helpless West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs) who have been struggling since 1947 to get basic human rights in democratic India. Victims of the worst ever discrimination of the successive State and Central governments, these refugees, majority of them belong to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Dalits, voices of these refugees always remained unheard due to petty politics. With Sarsanghachalak highlighting their issues during his Vijayadashami address, a ray of hope has been rekindled among these refugees. “Many issues continue to hang fire. During the Partition subsequently many Hindu refugees were displaced from Pakistan and arrived in J&K”, Shri Bhagwat said. “Their third generation is living there. They don’t have State citizenship rights. They don't have ration cards and jobs. How long will they wait?” he asked. Although Sarsanghachalak has not mentioned name of West Pakistani Refugees but when he mentioned Hindu refugees, who were domiciled in the areas assigned to Pakistan, he talked about West Pakistani refugees. Main Demands of West Pakistani refugees are: 1. Entitlement for getting Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) like other citizens of J&K; 2. Rehabilitation of all West Pakistani refugees living in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947; 3. Compensation for all West Pakistani refugees who had left their property in Pakistan after Partition 4. Voting right in Assembly, civic bodies and Panchayats. Shockingly the self-proclaimed champions of the causes of Dalits and OBCs, across the country, have never highlighted plight of these refugees of J&K. Political groups across the country always adopt indifferent attitude towards these Dalits and OBC refugees, who are worst ever victims of the discriminatory policies of the State governments of J&K. These refugees are deprived of citizenship rights and denied of caste certificates, so not getting any reservation benefits. Those who came to Bharat, barring J & K, got full-fledged citizenship and some even rose to such high positions such as that of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, I K Gujral and L K Advani for instance. But those who migrated to Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, continue to live a wretched life even after 69 years of their stay in this State. Governments of Jammu and Kashmir had earlier amended constitution twice to grant citizenship to Chinese citizens but with communal mindset those who have been living in this State since 1947 have not been granted the similar benefits. “RSS chief has given a very clear message. We are hopeful that our humanitarian issues would be taken seriously by the State and Centre”, said Labha Ram Gandhi, chairman of the West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee. Deepak Zazia from Jammu
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