POONCH, MAY 24: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi today visited Poonch where they met the residents affected by cross border shelling recently.
They conducted door-to-door visits to homes damaged during the shelling. During the visit, LoP interacted with the victims of the shelling and expressed solidarity with them.
The visit also included stops at Gurdawara Singh Sabha, Jamia Zia Ul Uloom, Sanatam Dharam Sabha, Christ High School, besides meeting with affected families in their homes.
Javed Rana appreciated the visit of LoP , his commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with people in times of need. Rana said that aim of the visit was to share the pain of those who have lost their loved ones.
The two leaders met varied sections of the society and inspected the extent of damage to homes and other infrastructural establishments.
“It is encouraging that leaders across party lines have come here to get a first hand account of the sufferings of the border villages.
People feel a sense of comfort that those holding positions of power are standing with them in such difficult times and share their pain,” Rana said.
Poonch, among other border areas has borne the brunt of the shelling, resulting in the loss of innocent civilian lives and significant damage to homes and infrastructure.
Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, Rana said that the locals have suffered immense pain and loss and we need to join hands and make a real difference in their lives.
“Our government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is committed to reach all those households that have suffered losses. We are duty bound to provide relief to them to help them rebuild their lives,” he said.
The government had announced an ex-gratia relief of ₹10 lakh for the families of those killed in the Pakistan shelling.
The two leaders also assessed the extent of damage caused by shelling and assured the people of prioritising restoration work.
They emphasized the need for immediate action to address the humanitarian needs of those affected by the shelling.
Javed Rana had earlier conducted an extensive tour of the border areas wherein he had instructed the officers to engage closely with the victim families and extend all possible support to them.
He had directed that compensation to the affected people should be processed expeditiously, ensuring that they receive the necessary assistance to rebuild their lives.
Earlier in the morning, Rana received amd welxomed LoP at Jammu Airport. He wrote on X: “warmly welcomed Leader of Opposition, Shri @RahulGandhi Ji at Jammu. He’s flying to Poonch to express solidarity with families affected by recent LoC shelling. Appreciate his visit, commitment to standing with our people in times of need and empathy for their well-being.”
Later, the LoP wrote on X: “Today, I met with the families of those who lost their lives in Pakistan’s shelling in Poonch. Broken homes, scattered belongings, tearful eyes, and the painful story of losing loved ones in every corner – these patriotic families bear the brunt of war with courage and dignity every time. I salute their resilience. I stand firmly with the affected families – I will definitely raise their demands and issues at the national level.”
