BJP high-level committee assesses border damage, recommends bunkers, jobs, hiked compensation

United News of India

26-05-2025

Jammu, May 26 (UNI) A high-level committee comprising senior BJP leaders visited the shelling hit villages to assess the damages to the life and property and outlined the party's assessment of civilian losses and ongoing relief efforts in border areas affected by Pakistan shelling, said Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition and General Secretary, J&K BJP here in a press conference.
He was accompanied by Dr. Narinder Singh, BJP National Secretary and MLA, Sham Lal Sharma, BJP Vice President and MLA, and R S Pathania, J&K BJP Spokesperson and MLA.
Sharma expressed profound grief and condemnation over the inhuman Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam, where 26 innocent civilians were killed.
"The attack was particularly disturbing, as the terrorists targeted male family members after identifying them based on religion. This gruesome act", he said adding that it stands as one of the most horrifying terror crimes committed in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 36 years of terrorism.
In a resolute and strategic response to the Pahalgam attack, Indian security forces launched Operation Sindoor on the night of May 6-7, he said, and clarified that the operation was meticulously designed to be non-escalatory, non-civilian, and non-military, focusing exclusively on neutralizing terrorist infrastructure.
The operation resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists and dismantling of nine major terror hideouts.
Despite the targeted and controlled nature of the operation, the Pakistan Army retaliated unreasonably, launching indiscriminate shelling on civilian areas along the border. This led to significant loss of life, destruction of homes, livestock, and agricultural assets, he stated.
Sharma briefed that in response to Pakistan's aggression, Indian forces undertook a historic counterstrike, which destroyed 11 Pakistani airbases and military establishments, adding, "this strong action compelled Pakistan to seek a ceasefire.
Demonstrating strategic restraint, the Indian Army temporarily withheld further action under Operation Sindoor, placing a clear condition: any future act of terror will be treated as an act of war, and consequences will be far more severe.'
The operation also represented a diplomatic victory for India, reinforcing its global position on counter-terrorism while avoiding full-scale military escalation, he asserted.
To assess the extent of civilian loss and damage due to Pakistani shelling, a committee was constituted by the BJP's central leadership, said Sharma. The committee comprising Sunil Sharma, Dr. Narinder Singh, Sham Lal Sharma, Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, and R.S. Pathania, visited all major affected areas including Hiranagar, Suchetgarh, Arnia, R S Pura, Chamb, Pallanwala, Akhnoor, Rajouri, Nowshera, Poonch, Mendhar, Surankote, Uri, and Tangdhar.
Their findings included 14 civilian deaths in Poonch, 2 in Rajouri, 1 each in Uri and Nagrota and more lives were lost in the chaos. Widespread damage to property, with 690 houses damaged in Poonch, 534 in Uri, and over 1,500 to 2,000 houses affected overall.
Sunil Sharma said that the local population, though grieving, expressed satisfaction with the swift and firm response of Indian forces. Many residents acknowledged that existing community bunkers helped save lives, though there is now an urgent need to construct additional individual and community bunkers along the border.
Sharma shared that the BJP delegation submitted the key demands to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, which included Immediate construction of more bunkers to ensure civilian safety, Government jobs for families who lost a member due to shelling, Increased compensation for damaged homes beyond the existing limit of ₹1.2 lakh under SDRF norms. The committee also recommended the disbursal through Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs) to ensure efficient and immediate disbursal of aid.
The government has already disbursed ₹6 lakh from the Ministry of Home Affairs and ₹10 lakh from the UT Government as ex-gratia relief for bereaved families.
Assistance to the injured has also been provided. However, compensation for property damage remains inadequate, and the BJP has formally requested that revised guidelines be introduced to address this gap, he said.
Sharma reiterated the party's commitment to the safety, security, and dignity of all residents living in border areas.
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