13TH MARTYRS’ DAY OBSERVED: MP seeks better facilities for martyrs’ families

13TH MARTYRS’ DAY OBSERVEDMP seeks better facilities for martyrs’ families Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Kathua, November 16
About 100 families of martyrs belonging to Udhampur, Doda, Kathua and Samba districts were honoured by a battery of ministers, MLAs and MLCs at a function organised on the occasion of the 13th Martyrs’ Day by MP Lal Singh at Shaheedi Chowk here today.

Lal Singh organised the function in memory of the martyrs, who laid down their lives while protecting the integrity of the nation. Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was to be the chief guest, could attend the function due to his meeting with the Prime Minister.

Lal Singh sought some amendments to the existing laws saying, “If the only married son of a family dies while fighting militants, our laws only provide monetary support to the widow of the martyr. The laws should be amended and the government should also provide some support to the parents of the martyrs so that they can spend their lives comfortably.”

He said, “To honour the families of the martyrs is our prime motive. But it does not mean that the work is finished. The government should provide them some privilege that they need not to have stand in queues at government offices.”

The MP also demanded some kind of medical support for these people. “I receive a large number of complaints regarding the non-payment of timely benefits to the families of the martyrs. In some cases, petrol pumps and kerosene oil depots allotted to the families of the martyrs had been forcefully “purchased” by influential people. This practice should be stopped forthwith,” demanded Lal Singh.

He motivated the people, especially the youth, to join the armed forces. “The kandi belt of the Jammu region has produced a number of security officers, who are serving across the country. A large number of people have made the supreme sacrifice too. But when it comes to providing any financial support to their families, the government starts citing fund crunch, which is unfortunate,” said Lal Singh.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma fainted during the function. Doctors were called to attend to him and he regained consciousness after a few minutes. He later addressed the gathering.

Minister for Hajj and Auqaf Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Minister for Cooperatives Manohar Lal, former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, former Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Arvinder Singh Micky, MLA GM Saroori, MLCs Subhash Gupta and Naresh Gupta and former MLA Kanta Andotra attended the function.

The leaders paid floral tributes to the martyrs. The members of martyrs’ families were seen in tears while remembering their wards.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, who fainted during the Martyrs’ Day function in Kathua on Wednesday, being offered water. A Tribune photograph