The Talwara Migrants held a press conference at Press Club, Jammu which was addressed by Prof.Bhim Singh, JKNPP President & Sr. Advocate in the Supreme Court urging the LG Govt. in J&K. Some senior representatives of the Talwara Migrants also joined in the press conference. Those who addressed the press conference with the JKNPP President included M/s. P.K. Ganju (Sr. Vice President), Ms. Anita Thakur (General Secretary), Balwan Singh (Chairman of Talwara Migrants Action Committee) & Jagdev Singh its President.
The Panthers Party Chief also demanded relief to Talwara Migrants at par with the Kashmiri Migrants which has not been paid by J&K Govt. in spite of Supreme Court direction to the Union & State Govts. The Panthers Party in a statement released to the press demanded that,
1. Construction of Colony for Jammu Migrants at par with Kashmiri Migrants.
2. Release of kerosene w.e.f. March 2011 to till date.
3. Release of arrears from 1998 to 2021 at par with Kashmiri Migrants as directed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and difference of arrears paid at par with Border Migrants and Kashmiri Migrants.
4. Registration of bifurcated and left out families.
5. Hospital facility with doctors and free medicines to the migrants in the Talwara Camp.
6. Regular release of relief and regular ration every month to the migrant families.
7. Relief for the month of Aug-Sept 2021 is not provided to the migrants.
8. Release of relief for migrants who are not registered but considered as genuine migrants by the district screening committee Reasi in 2008.
9. That relief to the Ex Servicemen should be paid as they were paid in paid practice upto 2007.
10. Reservation in Govt. jobs to literate migrants’ youth and in professional colleges.
11. Upgradation of Govt. Middle School, Talwara to High School.
12. Ration pending of 642 families to Tehsil Mahore w.e.f. March 2020 to October 2020.
13. Tehsil Mahore Arrears 42 months of 18 families should be paid.
14. Distribution of sugar pending in Tehsils of Reasi, Rajouri, Mahore for 642 families w.e.f. January 2017 to October 2020 should be paid immediately.
15. Cattle feed pending of 6 families w.e.f. 2002 to 2020.
16. Polling station in migrant camp Talwara.
17. Electricity Cut of 8 Hrs. in Talwara Migrant Camp should be regularized.
J&K National Panthers Party demands immediate redressal of genuine grievances of Jammu Migrants, who are languishing in depilated temporary sheds of NHPC Ltd. at Talwara, Reasi.
Addressing Press Conference Prof. Shim Singh, President of JKNPP urged upon the President of India Shri Ramnath Kovind and Lt. Governor Shri Manoj Sinha to immediately provide ration, medicare, essentials of life like fuel and proper shelter to the Talwara Migrants at Reasi. He said that despite clear orders from Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the Jammu Talwara Migrants should be treated at par with Kashmiri Migrants in so far the life necessities are needed. He said that the migration in Jammu region from remote mountainous areas commenced from 1998 onwards with the government failure to protect and ensure security to the people from time to time.
Prof.Bhim Singh who has been supporting the Talwara Migrants since 1998 and he and the Panthers Party moved several writ petitions of Talwara Migrants in the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court had issued directions several times to pay relief to the Talwara Migrants (Jammu Migrants) at par with Kashmiri Migrants. Prof.Bhim Singh accused J&K government that the government has been discriminating against Jammu Migrants at several points. Jammu Migrants called as Talwara Migrants have been facing criminal cases filed by the Govt. of J&K against the migrant leaders and the case is pending since August 7, 2007. He said that the trial has not even started nor the chargesheet prepared in 15 years. He declared that the Legal Aid Committee, J&K which is headed by Prof.Bhim Singh and fighting the case in the Supreme Court declared that the Panthers Party shall move the Supreme Court seeking full ration and all facilities which have been given to the migrants from Kashmir.
Prof. Bhim Singh said that half of the migrants rotting and suffering in rotten huts in Talwara deserve all their entitlements at par with other migrants from Kashmir who are being provided all facilities, ration and accommodation by J&K Govt. in Jammu region. He demanded implementation of all Fundamental Rights provided in Chapter-III of the Indian Constitution which has been made applicable to all residents of J&K and Ladakh since August 5, 2019 by the Parliament of India.
