War punishes border people most: Sajad Lone

Uri, May 13: People living in border areas continue to suffer the most whenever tensions flare between India and Pakistan, People’s Conference (PC) chairman and MLA Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone said on Tuesday.
Addressing reporters during his visit to shelling-hit areas of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Lone said, “War punishes the most those who have the least to do with it — our border population.”
He expressed serious concern over the devastation caused by the recent escalation of hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC).
The MLA said, “The destruction here is evident. Families have lost their homes, their livelihoods and their sense of security. We will appeal to the government to compensate the losses fully and fairly.”
He said that since the destruction was the result of a conflict between two nations, it would be unjust for the affected people to bear the burden of rebuilding from their own pockets. “It will be disgraceful if they have to spend a single penny. These people didn’t bring war upon themselves,” he said.
The PC chairman further said that the current relief and rehabilitation framework is grossly inadequate and incapable of addressing the scale of damage. “If we want people to rebuild their homes and lives, the government must implement an out-of-the-box compensation system after a proper and transparent assessment,” he added.
On the issue of bunkers, Lone advocated that all residents in forward areas be covered under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) with provisions for underground shelters. “These people are on the frontline. They can’t be left exposed. Bunkers are a basic right for the people living along the LoC,” he said.
Offering solidarity, he assured the residents of his support on all platforms. “Whatever and wherever the people need to go for relief, I will be with them shoulder to shoulder. They are not alone,” he asserted.
MLA Handwara said there hasn’t been a single war in recent history that has delivered a decisive or lasting solution. “Only destruction and more miseries,” he said. “We must move beyond violence.” (KNO)